What are Nucleotides?
Nucleotides are molecules important to metabolism. While they have many roles, they are best known as the subunits or building blocks of DNA and RNA. Nucleotides are also involved in reactions that convert food to energy and for making compounds the body needs.
Nucleotides are found in human milk, therefore are also added to infant formulas.
Why are Nucleotides in Baby Formula?
Nucleotides are added to infant formula for two reasons. First, they are found in human milk, and compounds in milk are assumed to have benefits to infants. Indeed, some research suggests that they may have health benefits related to:
early infant growth
development of the small intestine
healthy microbiome
immune function
But as I’ll explain later in this article, the research on nucleotides in infant formula is weak. One could even say it is extremely weak., which is surprising for such a common nutrient.
What Nucleotides are Added to Infant Formula?
Nucleotides is a generic word for a group of compounds. You won’t find this word on the formula ingredient list. Instead, you will find the name of specific nucleotides. Admittedly these are highly scientific names. Since very little nucleotide is added to infant formula, these names are found at the end of the ingredient list:
What is the Role of Nucleotides in Formula?
Human milk is the model for infant formula. However, infant formula can never really be exactly like human milk because human milk is a living, ever changing fluid. Formula is static and unchanging.
Nonetheless, manufacturers attempt to make formulas much like human milk as they can. One way to do that is to add compounds like nucleotides to their products with the hope that these ingredients will have the same health benefits in infant formula as they do in breast milk.
What are the Benefits of Nucleotides in Infant Formula?
The health benefits of nucleotides in infant formula are not clear. Just because nucleotides are found in human milk doesn’t mean that they have a specific health benefit. They could simply be a by-product of the body making milk. Nucleotides are used in metabolism. Lots of energy goes into making milk!
Nucleotide Formula Ingredient Research
Given how common this infant formula ingredient is, it has been studies very little. And the research results are inconsistent.
For example, there are only eight studies that examine the effects of nucleotide supplementation for infant growth. Two of those studies looked at infant head circumference, a growth measure that is linked to cognition and IQ. One study found that nucleotides in formula influenced head circumference, while a second did not.
These examples using growth studies illustrates why some scientists and clinicians do not believe that nucleotides provide health benefits.
Another line of research concerns nucleotides and absorption of certain fatty acids. And, formulas with nucleotides have also examined as part of enriched infant formulas and academic performance.
Are Nucleotides in Baby Formula Safe?
Yes! According to specialty formula marker Nutricia, nucleotides were first added to infant formula in the 1960 which then became common by the 1980s.. No adverse effects or harm has been documented from including nucleotides.
Which Baby Formulas have Nucleotides?
Most standard infant formulas made with nonfat milk and whey protein concentrate contain nucleotides. Organic baby formulas are the least likely to have them.
Most solution formulas made with whey protein hydrolysates also not contain nucleotides. Similarly, most therapeutic formulas do contain nucleotides, although there are aa few that do.
Lastly, plant-based formulas do not contain nucleotides.
Infant Formula Nucleotide Regulations
The US FDA does not set any recommended levels of nucleotides for infant formula. Since nucleotides have been added to infant formula since the 1960s, they did not have to be re-assessed as part of the 1980 Infant Formula Act.
In 2014, the European Food Safety Authority published a scientific opinion on the essential ingredients for infant formula. They concluded that they are not a necessary infant formula ingredient, because research is inconsistent. However, they do allow them in infant formulas because they are safe.
Dietary Considerations
All religious groups, vegans, and vegetarians can consume nucleotides. They are synthetic substances.