Soy Infant Formula Information

Soy Infant Formula Information
On December 18, an independent scientific panel that advises the National Toxicology Program released its evaluation of research on soy infant formula.

Over the next few months, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the National Toxicology Program will review the outside panel's conclusions which expressed “minimal concern” for adverse development effects in infants fed soy infant formula.

In the meantime we know that some parents may have questions regarding soy infant formula. The best place parents can get advice about their child's specific nutritional needs is by speaking with their child’s health care provider.

General Information

What is soy infant formula?
Soy formula is an infant food made using soy protein and other components. It is fed to infants as a supplement or replacement for human milk or cow milk.

Are infants affected differently than toddlers or adults who eat soy?
An infant’s diet is virtually 100% milk and/or formula. Infants who are fed only soy formula, have a much higher soy exposure level than do toddlers or adults who consume a variety of foods and less soy as a percentage of their diets.

What should concerned parents do?
The best place parents can get advice about their child's specific nutritional needs is by speaking to their doctor.

Are there alternatives to soy formula if infants cannot tolerate animal milk?
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the alternatives are amino acid formulations. Amino acids are the building blocks of pure protein, and these formulas omit all the other ingredients that are components of animal milk.

The AAP promotes the use of human milk as the ideal source of infant nutrition. The 2008 AAP revised clinical report states there are few indications for the use of soy protein-based formula in place of cow milk-based formula in infants. The only real indications for soy formula use are for infants with congenital galactosemia, for use by families who are strict vegans, or infants who are truly lactose intolerant.

For more information, read AAP’s May 2008 statement on the Use of Soy Protein-Based Formulas in Infant Feeding.
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/121/5/1062
What portion of U.S. infants consumes soy formula?
Based on 2009 market data, sales of soy formula in the United States represent about 12 percent of the total dollar sales for infant formula – almost a 50 percent decrease from 1999.
Alternatives

Breastfeeding is not only an alternative, but an important health choice with many benefits for mothers and babies.

For more information on breastfeeding: http://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/index.cfm and http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/index.htm
Parents can also get advice from their doctor about alternatives to soy formula.
U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Women, Infant and Children’s Program (WIC)

The USDA’s Women, Infant and Children’s (WIC) Program provides Federal grants to States for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk

WIC promotes and supports breastfeeding as the optimal source of nutrition for infants.
When breastfeeding is not an option for a woman, iron-fortified infant formula is provided as the next best source of nutrition for infants.

For more information on WIC: http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/
Conclusions of the Independent Panel’s Evaluation of Soy Infant Formula

During December 16 – 18, 2009, a 14-member, independent, scientific panel reviewed and evaluated the available scientific data on the consumption of soy infant formula as a risk to human development and identified research needs and data gaps.

The expert panel, whose role it is to advise the National Toxicology Program, was convened by the Department of Health and Human Services National Toxicology Program (NTP) and the Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction (CERHR) of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS).

The expert panel expressed “minimal concern” for adverse development effects in infants fed soy infant formula.

The National Toxicology Program will review the expert panel’s conclusions and solicit public comment. The NTP will use the expert panel report, public comments, and any new scientific literature deemed to relevant to the evaluation to prepare its report. The NTP anticipates issuing its final report by early summer 2010.

To read the expert panel’s conclusions and get more information on soy infant formula, visit http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/media/questions/sya-soy-formula.cfm

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