Formula-fed infant rhesus monkeys experience metabolic stress that could put them at greater risk of a range of health issues later in life, compared to their breast-fed counterparts.
After four weeks, formula-fed infants were larger, than their breastfed counterpart, which is not necessarily ideal and likely due to excess protein. Formula-fed infants also developed distinct bacterial communities in their gut, had higher insulin levels and were metabolising amino acids differently.
The study supports the idea that infant feeding practices can profoundly influence metabolism, and that breastfeeding, could potentially prevent future health issues such as obesity, diabetes, liver problems and cardiovascular disease.
Read more at University of California, Davis