LB099 - GASTROINTESTINAL SYMPTOMS IN FORMULA-FED INFANTS DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF LIFE IN SAUDI ARABIA; MEDICAL RECORD STUDY COMPARING GOAT MILK- AND COW’S MILK-BASED INFANT FORMULAS
LB099
GASTROINTESTINAL SYMPTOMS IN FORMULA-FED INFANTS DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF LIFE IN SAUDI ARABIA; MEDICAL RECORD STUDY COMPARING GOAT MILK- AND COW’S MILK-BASED INFANT FORMULAS
V. Bunt1,*, Y. Meijer-Krommenhoek1, J. Visser1, S. Elshimi2, N. Kamal3,4, F. Alnabulsi5, F. Abouzeid6, O. F. A. Larsen1,7
1Ausnutria, Zwolle, Netherlands, 2Dallah Hospital, Alkhobar, Saudi Arabia, 3Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt, 4Alhada Armed Forces Hospital, Taif, 5Dallah Hospital, Riyadh, 6Waqaya Medical Center, Medina, Saudi Arabia, 7Athena Institute, Vrije Univeristeit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Rationale: This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in formula-fed infants and to evaluate the effect of goat milk-based (GMF) versus cow’s milk-based infant formula (CMF) on these symptoms.
Methods: The results from seven pediatricians in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were included in the analysis of this retrospective observational medical record-based study. Included infants consumed GMF or CMF from birth or after an initial period of breastfeeding. Descriptive statistics were used to report the occurrence of GI symptoms. To compare GMF and CMF the cumulative number of GI symptoms during the first 3, 6, 9, 12 months was analyzed using a generalized linear mixed model.
Results: In this exploratory analysis 99 formula-fed infants were included. On average formula-fed infants experienced 2.2 GI symptoms and 77% of the infants had at least one GI symptom documented in their medical records during the first year of life. The most common symptoms were colic (49%) and gas/bloating (35%). The type of infant formula had a significant effect on the mean number of GI related symptoms in the first 9 months of life; GMF (estimated marginal mean (EMM)=1.2), CMF (EMM=2.2) (P=0.011) and the first 12 months of life; GMF (EMM=1.3), CMF (EMM=2.3) (P=0.008).
Conclusion: This study confirms that GI discomfort symptoms in formula-fed infants are common during the first year of life, with colic and gas/bloating most often reported in medical records. The number of reported GI discomfort symptoms during the first year of life was significantly lower in infants fed GMF compared to infants fed CMF.
Disclosure of Interest: V. Bunt Grant / Research Support from: Employee of Ausnutria, Y. Meijer-Krommenhoek Grant / Research Support from: Employee of Ausnutria, J. Visser Grant / Research Support from: Employee of Ausnutria, S. Elshimi Grant / Research Support from: Received compensation for their work in this study, N. Kamal Grant / Research Support from: Received compensation for their work in this study, F. Alnabulsi Grant / Research Support from: Received compensation for their work in this study, F. Abouzeid Grant / Research Support from: Received compensation for their work in this study, O. F. A. Larsen Grant / Research Support from: Employee of Ausnutria