Increased excretion of histidyl-L-proline diketopiperazine by infants receiving Pregestimil and Nutramigen formulas.

Histidyl-L-proline diketopiperazine is excreted in increased amounts by infants receiving Nutramigen or Pregestimil. When these formulas are discontinued, its excretion becomes undetectable. The compound was isolated from Nutramigen and Pregestimil, as well as from the urine of the infants receiving these formulas, and was identified by comparison with authentic histidyl-L-proline diketopiperazine standard in various chromatographic and electrophoretic systems. A neuropeptide widely distributed in the brain and gut and having a variety of biological functions, histidyl-L-proline diketopiperazine may have as-yet-undetermined effects on infants who are receiving these formulas.