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Human Milk Feeding in Inherited Metabolic Disorders: A systematic Review of Growth, Metabolic Control, and Neurodevelopment Outcomes.

  • Publications
  • Human MIlk Research

Breast milk is the gold standard for infant nutrition. However, for infants born with inherited metabolic disorders (IMDs) – a group of rare genetic conditions in which a faulty enzyme hinders the body’s ability to metabolize certain nutrients – breastfeeding can be particularly challenging.

 
To further investigate the role of human milk feeding in IMDs, experts from Danone Research & Innovation, alongside clinicians from Austria, the UK, the US, Turkey and The Netherlands, conducted a comprehensive review of over 50 studies.

 They found that for phenylketonuria, combining breast milk with phenylalanine-free formula supports metabolic control, growth, and neurodevelopment. For other IMDs, research is limited, but the data suggest that human milk feeding is possible with careful supervision and, where necessary, supplementation with special medical formulas. Continued research to evolve the formulation of specialized medical nutrition remains a priority. We encourage clinicians worldwide to share their experience with breastfeeding in this field, especially for IMDs other than phenylketonuria – so that together we can continue to improve care for all infants