Ross adds DHA to infant soy formula
Products, is to launch what it claims is the first soy infant
formula supplemented with DHA and ARA, on the US market.
The infant nutrition division of Abbott Laboratories, Ross Products, has launched a new soy infant formula supplemented with DHA and ARA, two fatty acids shown to be important for brain and visual development.
The company reported that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has completed its review of the product, Isomil Advance, which is now expected to be available in the United States in December.
In the US, 20-25 per cent of all infants are fed soy formula sometime during their first year. Both DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and ARA (arachidonic acid) are found in small amounts in breast milk and are already incorporated into many infant formulas.
Ross Products claims that Isomil Advance provides all the benefits of its current soy infant formula, Isomil, which has been clinically shown to provide more calcium absorption than the other leading brand, the business said. Isomil is often recommended by doctors for common feeding problems such as fussiness, gas and spit-up.
"Isomil Advance is made without palm or palm olein oils. Research has shown that formulas made with palm or palm olein oils may provide less calcium absorption than formulas made without those oils," said Russell J. Merritt, medical director of Pediatrics and Medical Nutritionals at Abbott's Ross Products.
Other Abbott products containing ARA and DHA include Similac Advance With Iron for term infants. The company also recently launched three preterm infant formulas, NeoSure Advance, Similac Special Care and Similac Natural Care, all supplemented with DHA and ARA.
