Systematic Reviews
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Pediatr. Mar 9, 2024; 13(1): 88783
Published online Mar 9, 2024. doi: 10.5409/wjcp.v13.i1.88783
Gastrointestinal tolerability of organic infant formula compared to traditional ‎infant formula: A systematic review
Mohammed Al-Beltagi, Nermin Kamal Saeed, Adel Salah Bediwy, Reem Elbeltagi, Mohamed Basiony Hamza‎
Mohammed Al-Beltagi, Department of Pediatric, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta 31511, Alghrabia, Egypt
Mohammed Al-Beltagi, Department of Pediatric, University Medical Center, King Abdulla Medical City, Arabian Gulf University, Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib ‎Medical ‎‎Group, Manama 26671, Manama, Bahrain
Nermin Kamal Saeed, Medical Microbiology Section, Department of Pathology, Salmaniya Medical Complex, ‎Ministry of Health, Kingdom of Bahrain, Manama 12, Manama, Bahrain
Nermin Kamal Saeed, Medical Microbiology Section, Department of Pathology, Irish Royal College of Surgeon, Busaiteen 15503‎, Muharraq, Bahrain
Adel Salah Bediwy, Department of Pulmonology, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta ‎‎ 31527, Alghrabia, Egypt
Adel Salah Bediwy, Department of Pulmonology, University Medical Center, King Abdulla Medical City, ‎‎Arabian Gulf University, Dr. ‎Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group, Manama‎ 26671, Manama, Bahrain
Reem Elbeltagi, Department of Medicine, The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Bahrain, ‎Busiateen 15503, Muharraq, Bahrain
Mohamed Basiony Hamza‎, Department of Pediatric, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta ‎University, Tanta ‎ 31511‎, Algahrbia, Egypt
Author contributions: Al-Biltagi M developed the idea, collected data, and wrote and revised the manuscript; Saeed NK collected the data and revised the manuscript from the laboratory aspect; Elbeltagi R collected the data, wrote the method section and revised the manuscript; Bediwy AS collected the data and revised the manuscript; Hamza MB collected the data and revised the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors declare no conflict of interest for this article.
PRISMA 2009 Checklist statement: The authors have read the PRISMA 2009 Checklist, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the PRISMA 2009 Checklist.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Mohammed Al-Beltagi, MBChB, MD, PhD, Academic Editor, Chairman, Professor, Research Scientist, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Al-Bahr Street, The Medical Complex, Tanta ‎31511‎, Alghrabia, Egypt. mbelrem@hotmail.com
Received: October 9, 2023
Peer-review started: October 9, 2023
First decision: December 8, 2023
Revised: December 13, 2023
Accepted: January 4, 2024
Article in press: January 4, 2024
Published online: March 9, 2024
Processing time: 149 Days and 16.4 Hours
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
Research background

The demand for organic infant formula has surged, driven by heightened parental awareness of health benefits and a growing organic product market. Differences in regulatory standards and cultural attitudes globally have shaped variations between European and American organic infant formula.

Research motivation

The increasing popularity of organic infant formula raises critical questions regarding its composition, regulatory frameworks, and potential impact on infants' gastrointestinal health, especially when compared to traditional formulas.

Research objectives

To conduct a comprehensive analysis comparing the gastrointestinal tolerability and nutritional compositions of organic and traditional infant formulas, exploring the existing literature and regulatory disparities between European and American organic formulas.

Research methods

A systematic review was conducted, spanning multiple databases and reputable publications. Seventy-eight articles were included, comprising research papers, meta-analyses, systematic reviews, narrative reviews, and consensus guidelines. Data extraction covered formula compositions, nutritional profiles, and gastrointestinal tolerability findings from infant populations.

Research results

European organic infant formulas, regulated by the European Commission, exhibit stricter standards than American organic formulas regulated by the USDA & NOP. Variations were evident in regulations, ingredients, nutritional content, and cultural attitudes toward these formulas.

Research conclusions

While both types of formulas aim to provide essential nutrients, disparities exist in ingredient sources, regulations, and nutrient levels. European formulas tend to prioritize organic ingredients and stricter regulations, while American formulas may contain additional ingredients like added iron and different carbohydrate sources.

Research perspectives

The findings highlight the need for continued investigation into the long-term effects of organic versus traditional formulas on infants' gastrointestinal health. Future research could focus on refining regulations and examining the real-world impact of these differences on infant health outcomes.