Growth, stool consistency and bone mineral content in healthy term infants fed sn-2-palmitate-enriched starter infant formula: A randomized, double-blind, multicentre clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Palmitate in breast milk is predominantly located in the triacylglycerol sn-2 position, while infant formulae contain palmitate predominantly in the sn-1 and sn-3 positions. During digestion, palmitate in the sn-1 and sn-3 positions is hydrolyzed to free palmitic acid that can subsequently complex with calcium to form insoluble soaps; this may partially explain why formula-fed infants have harder stools than breast-fed infants. METHODS: This large (n = 488) randomized, double-blind, multicentre trial investigated whether increasing the sn-2 palmitate content of infant formula improves stool consistency and bone mineral content (measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry), without affecting growth or health. From ∼1 week to 4 months of age, infants were exclusively fed one of three formulae: i) control formula (CF; 16% of total palmitate at sn-2; n = 162), (ii) experimental formula 1 (EF1; 43% of total palmitate at sn-2; n = 166) or (iii) experimental formula 2 (EF2; 51% of total palmitate at sn-2; n = 160). RESULTS: Intention-to-treat analysis showed softer stools in both EF groups (vs. CF) at ages 2 weeks and 1 and 2 months (p ≤ 0.01), but not 3 and 4 months. At 4 months, all groups had similar growth outcomes while bone mineral content was significantly higher in EF1 (p = 0.0012) and EF2 (p = 0.0002) compared with CF. Comparison of reported adverse events up to 12 months revealed no differences among groups. All 3 infant formulae exhibited equally good digestive tolerance. CONCLUSIONS: Formulae enriched in sn-2 palmitate fed in early infancy are safe, improve stool consistency (from 2 weeks to 2 months) and increase bone mineral content (at 4 months).

Timeliness of vaccination in infants followed by primary-care pediatricians in France.

Vaccination status is more often evaluated by up-to-date vaccination coverage rather than timeliness of immunization. Delaying vaccination may be dangerous during infancy. The aim of this study was to identify the importance of potentially dangerous vaccination delay (previously defined) and determinants of these delays. We conducted a national, prospective, vaccination survey in June 2014, with primary care pediatricians. Children, 2 to 24 months of age, were included. Data about vaccination were extracted from their health books. Additional data were collected through a standardized questionnaire. Vaccine coverage rate and timeliness were calculated. Variables associated with a potentially dangerous vaccination delay as previously defined were determined by a multivariable analysis. Among the 443 included children (mean age 10.8 months, 49% males), 13% to 58% of vaccine doses according to vaccine type were done with a potentially dangerous delay. Globally, 47% of children had at least one potentially dangerous immunization delay. We identified two risk factors of potentially dangerous delayed immunization globally: an increasing age of the child (adjusted odds ratio: 1.2, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1-1.3, p < 10-3), and a working mother (adjusted OR: 2.4, 95% CI: 1.2-4.7, p = 0.01). Despite a good vaccine coverage rate, a large number of children had a potentially dangerous vaccination delay. A high level of vigilance regarding these immunization delays, and particularly to the patients sharing the risk factors of immunization delay identified here, can increase quality and effectiveness of the vaccine protection.