{{short description|Hypoallergenic infant milk formula}} {{redirect|Elemental formula|the chemistry term|Empirical formula}} '''Amino acid-based formula''' is a type of infant milk formula made from individual amino acids. It is hypoallergenic and intended for infants suffering from severe allergy to milk and various gastrointestinal conditions, such as food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome and malabsorption syndromes.<ref name=leonard /><ref name=tsai /> It is sometimes referred to as '''elemental formula''' but this is considered a misleading name.<ref name=tsai>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DHtERWm0mrcC&q=elemental+formulas&pg=PA201 |title=Encyclopedia of Human Nutrition |page=201 |volume=3 |first1=Patrika |last1=Tsai |first2=Christopher|last2=Duggan|date=20 July 2005 |publisher=Elsevier |isbn=978-0-08-045428-3 }}</ref> Issues with the use of amino acid-based formula include its high cost and its unpalatable taste.<ref name=andreae /> Intake of amino-acid formula for healthy infants shows no advantage in growth.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Comparison of Growth of Healthy Term Infants Fed Extensively Hydrolyzed Protein- and Amino Acid-Based Infant Formulas |first1= Marlene W. |last1=Borschel |first2=Geraldine E. |last2=Baggs |first3=Jeffery S. |last3= Oliver |journal=Nutrients |date=2018|volume= 10|issue=3|page= 289|doi= 10.3390/nu10030289 |pmid= 29494498 |pmc=5872707|doi-access=free }}</ref>
==Background== Amino acids are the building blocks of protein and together they form the protein requirements in formula needed for growth and development. The amino acids are in the simplest form, making it easy for the body to process and digest. Amino acid-based formula may be considered hypoallergenic since it does not contain peptides that may trigger an immune response.<ref name=andreae>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ObF0BgAAQBAJ&pg=PA142 |title=Early Nutrition and Long-Term Health|first1=D. |last1=Andreae|first2= A.|last2= Nowak-Węgrzyn|date= 2017|page=142 |isbn=978-0-08-100186-8|publisher= Woodhead Publishing}}</ref>
Because infants and children have different nutritional needs, amino acid-based formulas are typically formulated either for infants 0–1 years of age or for children 1–10 years of age.<ref>{{Citation |last1=Patel |first1=Jalpa K. |title=Infant Nutrition Requirements and Options |date=2023 |url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560758/ |access-date=2023-10-03 |place=Treasure Island (FL) |publisher=StatPearls Publishing |pmid=32809593 |last2=Rouster |first2=Audra S.}}</ref>
==Uses== Amino acid-based formulas may be used for those with cow's milk or soy protein allergy. However, most infants who suffer from food allergy respond well to extensively hydrolysed formulas, and only few of those with the most severe form of the illness require the use of amino acid-based formulas.<ref name=leonard>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sedDXy796vAC&pg=PA151 |title=Food Allergy |first1=Stephanie Ann|last1= Leonard|first2= Anna |last2=Nowak-Węgrzyn|page=151 |isbn=978-1-4557-3981-3|publisher=Saunders |date=2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=The efficacy of amino acid-based formulas in relieving the symptoms of cow's milk allergy: a systematic review|vauthors=Hill DJ, Murch SH, Rafferty K, Wallis P, Green CJ |pmid= 17517094 |doi= 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2007.02724.x |journal=Clin Exp Allergy|date=June 2007 |volume=37|issue=6|pages=808–22 |s2cid=5564593 }}</ref> It may also be used for other medical conditions requiring an amino acid-based diet, such as short bowel syndrome, and for transition from parenteral to enteral nutrition.<ref>{{cite journal |journal=J Nutr Metab|date=31 May 2010 | doi= 10.1155/2010/297575|title=The Influence of Neocate in Paediatric Short Bowel Syndrome on PN Weaning |first1=E |last1=De Greef |first2= T |last2=Mahler |first3= A |last3=Janssen |first4= H |last4=Cuypers|first5= G |last5=Veereman-Wauters |pages=1–6 |doi-access=free |pmc=2915748 |pmid= 20721339 }}</ref>
==See also== * Milk allergy * Food allergy
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Infants and their care}}
Category:Infant feeding Category:Infant formula Category:Amino acid derivatives