Objective: To evaluate growth, tolerance and plasma biochemistries in infants fed an experimental rice protein-based infant formula.
Design: Randomized, blinded, 16 week parallel feeding trial of 65 healthy infants fed either an experimental partially hydrolyzed rice protein-based infant formula fortified with lysine and threonine (RPF, n = 32), or a standard intact cow's milk protein-based formula (CMF, n = 33) as a control. Assessments occurred at enrollment (average 2 days), 2, 4, 8, and 16 weeks of age.
Results: Growth as indicated by weight, length, and head circumference was not different between the 2 formula groups. All plasma biochemistries for both groups were within reference normal range. However, RPF group had lower phosphorus and urea nitrogen, lower essential amino acids except threonine, which was higher, and lower ratio of essential (including semi-essential) to non-essential amino acids. Differences in the concentrations and ratios of amino acids became less as feeding progressed with age. Plasma total protein, albumin, prealbumin, calcium, magnesium, and alkaline phosphatase were not different between groups.
Conclusion: Healthy infants fed an experimental partially hydrolyzed rice protein-based formula had normal growth, tolerance, and plasma biochemistry comparable to those of infants fed a standard intact milk protein-based formula, despite some differences in amino acid profiles.