Objectives: Commercial infant formulas attempt to imitate the unique composition of human milk, which contributes to its distinctive influence on glycemic and insulinemic responses. However, lactose-free and milk protein-free formulas are often recommended due to medical reasons or chosen due to personal preferences (e.g., veganism). The aim of this study was to determine the glycemic and insulinemic indices of a variety of infant formulas.
Methods: We conducted a three-arm, randomized, double-blind, crossover study. The participants were healthy adult volunteers aged 25-40 years. Each participant randomly drank three commercially available infant formulas (cow's milk protein-based ["standard"], soy protein-based, and lactose-free). Glycemic and insulinemic responses and glucose and insulin blood levels were determined and compared between the three formulas.
Results: Twenty subjects were enrolled (11 females/9 males, mean age 32.8 ± 2.9 years). No significant difference was found in the glycemic index between the three formulas (21.5, 29.1, and 21.5 for the standard, soy protein-based, and lactose-free formulas, respectively, p = 0.21). However, maximal glucose levels were significantly higher for the soy protein-based formula compared to both the standard and lactose-free formulas (111.5 mg/dL compared to 101.8 mg/dL and 105.8 mg/dL, respectively, p = 0.001).
Conclusion: A cow's milk protein-based formula, a lactose-free formula, and a soy protein-based formula elicited similar glycemic index. However, soy protein-based formula produced a significantly higher increase in postprandial glucose levels. The implication and the biological significance of these results has yet to be determined.

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Posted 04 May, 2021
Posted 04 May, 2021
Objectives: Commercial infant formulas attempt to imitate the unique composition of human milk, which contributes to its distinctive influence on glycemic and insulinemic responses. However, lactose-free and milk protein-free formulas are often recommended due to medical reasons or chosen due to personal preferences (e.g., veganism). The aim of this study was to determine the glycemic and insulinemic indices of a variety of infant formulas.
Methods: We conducted a three-arm, randomized, double-blind, crossover study. The participants were healthy adult volunteers aged 25-40 years. Each participant randomly drank three commercially available infant formulas (cow's milk protein-based ["standard"], soy protein-based, and lactose-free). Glycemic and insulinemic responses and glucose and insulin blood levels were determined and compared between the three formulas.
Results: Twenty subjects were enrolled (11 females/9 males, mean age 32.8 ± 2.9 years). No significant difference was found in the glycemic index between the three formulas (21.5, 29.1, and 21.5 for the standard, soy protein-based, and lactose-free formulas, respectively, p = 0.21). However, maximal glucose levels were significantly higher for the soy protein-based formula compared to both the standard and lactose-free formulas (111.5 mg/dL compared to 101.8 mg/dL and 105.8 mg/dL, respectively, p = 0.001).
Conclusion: A cow's milk protein-based formula, a lactose-free formula, and a soy protein-based formula elicited similar glycemic index. However, soy protein-based formula produced a significantly higher increase in postprandial glucose levels. The implication and the biological significance of these results has yet to be determined.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3
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