Any information on Nutramigen or lactose-free formula please!

[Ellaroo]

Hello!

I wonder if anyone could tell me what the first ingredient of Nutramigen is. I have just put ds on Enfamil Lactofree to see whether his constant vomiting is caused by a lactose intolerance. After 24 without sick (this has never happened since birth), I am assuming his is, but unfortunately I really don't want to keep him on the Enfamil as the first ingredient is Glucose syrup (like Wysoy etc) and I am worried about his teeth and also that it could have other worrying health implications (I've heard that high amounts of sugar in such children can lead to early-onset diabetes). Could anyone tell me if Nutramigen or pregestimil is formulated from anything less worrrying? Ds is 7 months old, so does still need some sort of formula, although I'd be interested to know if anyone has done away with formula completely and given some sort of calcium supplement instead - as I almost feel giving nothing would be better than giving glucose syrup?? I feel very confused and am now even wondering whether it would be better to let him carry on being sick all the time with a lactose fomula for the next 5 months (although obviously the stomach acid from this will rot his teeth too) until he no longer needs formula, than give him the Enfamil. Opinions gratefully received - sorry if not very coherent or clearly thinking - am rather flumoxed by the whole situation!

sorry - that's meant to be 24 hours!

The glucose syrup is probably copying the sugar content of mother's milk, which if you've ever tasted it, is quite alarmingly sweet. Whatever keeps him from vomiting is probably best. I'm sure the formula manufacturers all have about the same amount of sugar (of whatever sort) in their products. (I've not had much luck finding online info on this ... anyone?)

The glucose is there because there is no lactose (the sugar naturally present in milk) and there are high quantities because it needs to be made palatable. There are indeed concerns about this, Ellaroo - you could do a web search on risks of soya formula - but I don't recall it being linked to diabetes, but dental caries, especially if the child has several bottles of it. I found ingredients for Nutramigen pretty easily on the web. Looks like the sugar is made from corn syrup. There is no lactose. Formulas like N. have their proteins 'pre-digested' and the theory is this makes the formula easier for the baby to digest.

The main ingredient is indeed the corn syrup, so it is clearly very high in sugars. Maybe a web search would give you more info on any studies done on the risk of this.

As I recall, the dental decay risk is greatly reduced if the baby doesn't have an all-day 'swig from it' bottle and doesn't go to sleep with the bottle bathing the teeth, so you may be able to manage this drawback ok.

Ingredients of Nutramigen (first 10 from tin) ? glucose syrup, vegetable oils, casein hydrosate, modified cornstarch, calcium phosphate, potassium citrate, potassium chloride, calcium citrate. L-cystine, choline chloride.

HTH

Interesting, Kristina....my info came from an American site, so I expect the difference is because of different food labelling regulations.

Glucose is a sugar obtained from fruit and vegetables, so I suppose the corn syrup is where the glucose comes from, but for some reason, the US regs mean they have to list the source of the sugar.

Just guessing here, though.

It could be the US formulation differs from the UK one.

I have exactly the same worries and concerns. My baby has been on Nutramigen since 3 moths old for lactose intolerance which gave her terribly reflux and colic. We are really worried about the glucose content and the damage it will do, particularly to her teeth a she now has 2 bottom teeth (9 months) and the others are coming through fast. We have tried to put her back onto normal formula with lactose recently because of this, but she refuses it point blank - even if we mix just a small amount of it with her the nutramigen. Our main concern is that we give her a bottle before she goes to sleep - it is what sends her to sleep but we are now really concerned that this is a terrible idea and that we should brush her teeth before bed. This will wake her up and will undoubtedly be something 'unpleasurable' and will probably cause her to accosiate teeth brushing as a bad thing. Please , can anyone advise me on how and when i should brush her teeth - is it essential after her bedtime bottle?
xx