Kariyawasam Kalmee Pramoda, Somaratne Geeshani, Dillimuni Sumali Dilrukshi, Walallawita Umani
Riddet Institute Massey University Palmerston North New Zealand.
Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture University of Peradeniya Peradeniya Sri Lanka.
Food Sci Nutr. 2025 Aug 27;13(9):e70788. doi: 10.1002/fsn3.70788. eCollection 2025 Sep.
Infant nutrition plays a pivotal role in shaping short- and long-term health outcomes. This review critically examines the comparative effects of breastfeeding and infant formulas on infant growth, cognitive development, and overall health. Breastfeeding, often considered the gold standard, provides a dynamic composition of nutrients, antibodies, and bioactive factors that support immune function, neurodevelopment, and gut microbiota maturation, contributing to long-term protection against chronic diseases, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions. In contrast, although modern infant formulas are designed to mimic the nutritional composition of breast milk and support infant growth, they may lack certain bioactive components, potentially leading to differences in gut microbiota composition and increased susceptibility to infections and allergies. However, various medical, societal, and personal factors may necessitate formula feeding, which has been optimized to approximate the nutritional profile of breast milk. In conclusion, both breastfeeding and infant formulas play significant roles in infant nutrition, with breastfeeding providing unparalleled health benefits. However, infant formulas remain a viable alternative when breastfeeding is not possible. This review highlights the need for individualized feeding recommendations that consider maternal health, socioeconomic factors, and infant needs to optimize growth and health outcomes.
婴儿营养在塑造短期和长期健康结果方面起着关键作用。本综述批判性地研究了母乳喂养和婴儿配方奶粉对婴儿生长、认知发育和整体健康的比较影响。母乳喂养通常被视为黄金标准，它提供了营养物质、抗体和生物活性因子的动态组合，有助于支持免疫功能、神经发育和肠道微生物群成熟，从而长期预防肥胖、2型糖尿病和心血管疾病等慢性疾病。相比之下，尽管现代婴儿配方奶粉旨在模仿母乳的营养成分并支持婴儿生长，但它们可能缺乏某些生物活性成分，这可能导致肠道微生物群组成的差异，并增加感染和过敏的易感性。然而，各种医学、社会和个人因素可能使配方奶喂养成为必要，目前配方奶喂养已得到优化，以接近母乳的营养成分。总之，母乳喂养和婴儿配方奶粉在婴儿营养中都起着重要作用，母乳喂养具有无可比拟的健康益处。然而，当无法进行母乳喂养时，婴儿配方奶粉仍然是一种可行的选择。本综述强调需要根据个体情况提供喂养建议，考虑母亲健康、社会经济因素和婴儿需求，以优化生长和健康结果。
