ENERGY AND PROTEIN INTAKES OF BREAST-FED AND FORMULA-FED INFANTS DURING THE 1ST YEAR OF LIFE AND THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH GROWTH VELOCITY - THE DARLING STUDY

Intake and growth were compared between matched cohorts of infants eit her breast-fed (BF) or formula-fed (FF) until greater-than-or-equal-to 12 mo of age. Total energy intake at 3, 6, 9, and 12 mo averaged 0.36 , 0.34, 0.35, and 0.38 MJ . kg-1. d-1 (85.9, 80.1, 83.6, and 89.8 kcal . kg-1. d-1) among BF infants vs 0.41, 0.40, 0.39, and 0.41 MJ . kg-1 . d-1 (98.7, 94.7, 93.6, and 98.0 kcal . kg-1 . d-1) among FF infants , respectively. Protein intake was 66-70% higher in the FF than in the BF group during the first 6 mo. Differences in energy and protein int akes were significant at 3, 6, and 9 mo. Gains in weight and lean body mass were lower in BF than in FF infants from 3 to 9 mo. BF infants g ained more weight and lean body mass per gram protein intake but not p er megajoule intake. Although growth differences between groups were r elated to differences in intake, there is no evidence of any functiona l advantage to the more rapid growth of FF infants.