Purpose

This study will compare infant gut bacteria for infants who have been fed a standard infant formula (Enfamil Infant); infants who have been fed a new infant formula designed to be more similar to breast milk (Enfamil NeuroPro); and breastfed infants. These formulas are currently available on the market and meet FDA requirements for infant formula.

Conditions

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Between 0 Months and 4 Months
Eligible Sex
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Inclusion Criteria

  • Healthy term infants with parental consent - Parents are able to provide informed consent; own a smart phone and are able to fill out weekly digital questionnaires.

Exclusion Criteria

  • Prematurity (<= 36 weeks gestational age) - Babies born through c-section - Any health issues identified at the first postpartum screening - Use of both breast milk and formula - Use of donor breast milk - Parent unwillingness/inability to avoid giving prebiotics, probiotics, symbiotics, and immune-stimulating products to the child for the duration of this study

Study Design

Phase
N/A
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel Assignment
Intervention Model Description
Subjects will be able to choose between the breast-fed or formula-fed group. Subjects in the formula-fed group will be randomly assigned to one of the two formulas, with a 50% chance of being assigned to each group.
Primary Purpose
Supportive Care
Masking
Single (Participant)
Masking Description
Participants and research nurse/coordinator will be blinded to the formula assignment. The formulas used will be a standard infant formula (Enfamil Infant) and a new infant formula designed to be more similar to breast milk (Enfamil NeuroPro); both formulas are available for purchase by the public and meet FDA requirements for infant formulas. Each formula can (identical size) will be relabeled and coded by the investigators. Participants in the formula group will be provided with a four-month supply of powdered formula at the time of discharge from the hospital, along with stool collection kits.

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
No Intervention
Breast Milk
Other
Enfamil Infant
  • Dietary Supplement: Enfamil Infant
    FDA Infant formula
Active Comparator
Enfamil NeuroPro
  • Dietary Supplement: Enfamil NeuroPro
    FDA Infant formula

Recruiting Locations

University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona 85724
Contact:
Nikki Reed, MD
520-626-3414
nikkireed23@arizona.edu

More Details

NCT ID
NCT06059209
Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
University of Arizona

Study Contact

Nikki Reed, MS
(520) 626-3414
nikkireed23@arizona.edu

Detailed Description

This study is a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study comparing breast milk to Enfamil Infant and Enfamil NeuroPro formulas. The central hypothesis of the study is that the addition of milk fat globule membrane and2'-Fucosyllactose (2'-FL) to infant formula plays a role in shaping the microbiota in a manner similar to the microbiota of breastfed infants. To test this hypothesis, the investigators will explore longitudinal changes in the fecal microbiome from birth to 4 months of age in infants fed breast-milk, standard Enfamil Infant formula or Enfamil NeuroPro formula. Fecal samples will be collected at birth, and then monthly for 4 months. At the time of last collection one serum sample will be collected. The investigators will analyze basic growth parameters, fecal microbial community analysis by metagenomics, fecal metabolome by untargeted metabolomic analysis, and fecal and systemic indicators of inflammation and intestinal barrier function.

Notice

Study information shown on this site is derived from ClinicalTrials.gov (a public registry operated by the National Institutes of Health). The listing of studies provided is not certain to be all studies for which you might be eligible. Furthermore, study eligibility requirements can be difficult to understand and may change over time, so it is wise to speak with your medical care provider and individual research study teams when making decisions related to participation.