VYH Yu

Abstract

An increasing number of infant formulas are being marketed with nucleotide supplementation, because the composition of human milk is considered the gold standard for infant nutrition, and human milk has been shown to have a higher concentration of nucleotides than bovine milk which is the source of most infant formulas. This paper provides an outline of the biology of human milk nucleotides, and reviews the evidence for beneficial effects of feeding infants with nucleotide-supplemented formulas in clinical studies. Published randomised controlled trials have to date not convincingly demonstrated clinical benefits of feeding healthy term infants nucleotide-supplemented formula compared with non-supplemented formula. However, one study reported that term infants with severe intrauterine growth retardation have better catch-up growth in the first six months with nucleotide supplementation. Further studies are required to define the role of human milk nucleotides, and to evaluate the potential clinical benefits and appropriate level of nucleotide supplementation of infant formula, before a recommendation can be made for nucleotide supplementation of infant formulas for feeding either healthy or at-risk infants.