Infant formula with Lacprodan IF-3070 supports healthy growth, clinical study finds

Infant formula containing Arla Foods Ingredients’ Lacprodan IF-3070 supports healthy growth, with trajectories comparable to those of breastfed infants, clinical research has claimed. The study also found that it was well tolerated.

Lacprodan IF-3070 is a partially hydrolyzed whey protein ingredient specially designed to support gastrointestinal comfort in healthy infants, the company stated in a release.

In the clinical study, which focused primarily on safety and growth outcomes, 251 newborns under the age of 14 days were recruited from six Chinese hospitals. They were randomized to receive either a standard formula based on intact protein, or one containing both intact protein and Lacprodan IF-3070 (approximately 40%). Breastfed infants were included as a reference.

At the end of the six-month intervention period, the difference in mean daily weight gain between the Lacprodan IF-3070 group and the breastfed group was found to be only 0.4g per day. The difference between the standard formula group and the breastfed group was 1.1 g per day. In other words, growth trajectories in the infants receiving Lacprodan IF-3070 were comparable to those who were breastfed.

In addition to being safe and supporting healthy growth, Lacprodan IF-3070 was well tolerated. There were no significant differences in the incidence of adverse events (gastrointestinal disorders such as vomiting or refusal, respiratory diseases such as coughs, or general disorders such as fevers) between the Lacprodan IF-3070 group and the breastfed group. By contrast, the incidence of gastrointestinal disorders was significantly higher in the standard formula group than in the breastfed group.

Lotte Neergaard Jacobsen, chief scientist, early life nutrition, at Arla Foods Ingredients, said, “Healthy growth is one of the main benefits influencing infant formula purchases, and a particular focus in the Chinese market. At Arla Foods Ingredients, we have decades of experience in developing high-quality milk protein hydrolysates for infant formulas. We invest heavily in research to ensure the safety and high standards of our ingredients, and we’re delighted that the first clinical study on Lacprodan IF-3070 has confirmed that it supports healthy growth.”

Since their introduction in the 1940s, milk protein hydrolysates have been widely used in infant nutrition due to their documented benefits for allergy management and the reduction of digestive discomfort.

With advanced manufacturing facilities, pilot plants and analytical labs, Arla Foods Ingredients is a leader in hydrolysate production. Part of the company’s portfolio of hydrolysates, Lacprodan IF-3070 can be used in China and the US, with the FDA approving the use of whey protein hydrolysates in infant formula in 2024.

The study was carried out at Peking University in collaboration with the Junlebao Dairy Group. Professor Yvan Vandenplas, MD, PhD at the KidZ Health Castle University Hospital Brussel (UZ Brussel), a key opinion leader in paediatric nutrition, was a consultant and co-investigator. The publication is the first of a series of four based on the study.