Growth and adiposity of term infants fed whey-predominant or casein-predominant formulas or human milk.

Growth, estimated composition of weight gained, and stool patterns of term infants who were fed either a whey-predominant formula or a casein-predominant formula in a random design and of breast-fed infants were compared. All infants (N = 111) were healthy, singleton products of uncomplicated pregnancies. Birth weights and other anthropometric measures in the first few days of life were not different among the three feeding groups. Formula or breast milk was the infants' principal source of energy from birth to age 16 weeks. Average energy intakes of formula-fed infants and change of intakes with age were similar in both groups at all ages. Feeding groups were not significantly different at any age in weight, length, weight or length gain, head circumference, skinfold measurements, upper arm fat area and muscle area, or estimated total body fat. Stools of infants on the whey-predominant formula differed from both the breast-fed and casein-predominant formula groups.