Abstract

COSTA, Cristina Pinto da; MASCARENHAS-MELO, Filipa  and  BELL, Victoria. INFANT FORMULAS: COMPOSITION AND KEY FEATURES. Acta Port Nutr [online]. 2021, n.27, pp.18-23.  Epub Mar 15, 2022. ISSN 2183-5985.  https://doi.org/10.21011/apn.2021.2704.

The first months of a child’s life are determinant for their physical and cognitive development and may have repercussions on their health. Breast milk supplies all the infant’s nutritional needs during the first semester of life. However, when the mother cannot breastfeed, or chooses not to do so, there are infant formulas that can replace breast milk.

infant formulas have been continuously improved to resemble breast milk, allowing the recommended nutrient intake for each state of physiological and neurological maturation of the infant, contributing to a healthy growth.

This paper addresses some key concepts of infant feeding and nutrition, evidencing the diversity of infant formulas in the Portuguese market, specifying the differences between products and some guidelines for their correct use.

Keywords : Breastfeeding; Nutrition composition; Infant Formulas; Infant nutrition.

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