Rice protein formula and growth in healthy infants
What it found
Infants fed a rice protein-based formula grew normally over 16 weeks, with growth and most blood measures similar to infants fed a standard cow's milk formula.
Some amino acid levels in the blood differed between the two groups.
What they found
Studies in people
Growth
Weight, length and head circumference did not differ between the two formula groups.
Blood chemistry
All blood chemistry values for both groups stayed within the normal reference range. Total protein, albumin, prealbumin, calcium, magnesium and alkaline phosphatase did not differ between groups.
Amino acid levels
The rice protein group had lower levels of most essential amino acids, except threonine, which was higher. They also had a lower ratio of essential to non-essential amino acids.
Phosphorus and urea
The rice protein group had lower phosphorus and urea nitrogen in their blood.
Amino acid changes over time
The differences in amino acid levels and ratios became smaller as the infants got older and feeding continued.
What the authors conclude
“Healthy infants fed an experimental partially hydrolyzed rice protein-based formula had normal growth, tolerance, and plasma biochemistry comparable to those of infants fed a standard intact milk protein-based formula, despite some differences in amino acid profiles.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that healthy infants fed the experimental partially hydrolyzed rice protein-based formula had normal growth, tolerance and plasma biochemistry comparable to those fed a standard intact milk protein-based formula.
- They note that this was despite some differences in amino acid profiles.
How it was done
The authors wanted to check growth, tolerance and blood chemistry in infants fed an experimental rice protein-based formula.
They randomly assigned 65 healthy infants to either a partially hydrolyzed rice protein formula with added lysine and threonine, or a standard cow's milk protein formula, for 16 weeks. They checked the infants at enrollment (average 2 days) and at 2, 4, 8 and 16 weeks of age.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This trial only followed infants for 16 weeks, so it cannot show what happens over a longer period.
- It cannot show whether the differences in amino acid levels have any long-term effects on health.
Who paid
- Funding
- Funded by NCRR NIH HHS (from the PubMed record).
- Authors work at
- Abbott Laboratories, USA
The paper
- Title
- Growth, tolerance and biochemical measures in healthy infants fed a partially hydrolyzed rice protein-based formula: a randomized, blinded, prospective trial
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Lasekan JB, Koo WW, Walters J, Neylan M, Luebbers S (2006). Growth, tolerance and biochemical measures in healthy infants fed a partially hydrolyzed rice protein-based formula: a randomized, blinded, prospective trial. Journal of the American College of Nutrition. doi:10.1080/07315724.2006.10719509PubMed 16522927DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error