soy infant formula

Indications

• nutritional support for infant consumption limited to
  • inborn errors of lactose metabolism
    • galactosemia
    • primary lactase deficiency
  • desire to provide a diet free of animal products
  • treatment of infants with acute diarrhea, may be of benefit for transient lactase deficiency

Contraindications

• soy formulas are not recommended for preterm infants.
• soy formula has no proven benefit in infants with colic
• cow's milk protein-induced enterocolitis or allergy
  • many infants with cow's milk protein-induced enterocolitis or allergy also have soy allergy
  • a hydrolyzed protein formula is recommended
• soy formula does not prevent atopic disease in high-risk infants

Complications

• evidence of a link between soy formula & peanut allergy is contradictory
• no conclusive evidence exists that phytoestrogens (particularly isoflavones), which are present in soy formula, cause reproductive, endocrine, or developmental dysfunction

More general terms

• infant formula

Additional terms

• soy bean (Tofu, Tempe)