Cow, Soy, or Breast Milk: Does It Make a Difference in Developmental Outcome?

Infants fed soy-protein formula and cow's milk formula have similar patterns of physical growth, but no studies have compared developmental status in infants fed soy formula, cow's milk formula, or breast milk. In an observational study, researchers compared developmental status in 391 healthy full-term infants without prenatal or perinatal complications who were being fed cow's milk formula (131), soy formula (129) or breast milk (131) when recruited at age 1 to 2 months. Infants who changed formula after 2 to 12 months or who were supplemented with solid food before age 4 months were excluded. Half the infants who breast-fed continued to do so until age 12 months, the other half changed to milk formula, and all infants in the formula-fed …