Dietary protein for low birthweight babies. Sources and assessment of requirements.

Breastmilk is the best food for low birthweight babies for the first critical week(s) of life. In subsequent weeks, during rapid growth, formulas specially designed for this group of infants may be superior to ordinary breast milk substitutes. Modifications comprise the composition of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Requirements of minerals and vitamins are probably different from those in babies with normal birthweights. A controlled study was done of feeding a formula containing unmodified cow's milk protein (mainly curd) as compared to one containing the same amount of modified cow's milk protein (curd and whey). Using as criteria anthropometry, nitrogen balance studies and plasma amino acid levels certain advantages were found when feeding the low birthweight babies the whey predominant formula.