Nowadays, formulated milks have been industrially prepared, through various stages, starting from cow's milk, more and more refined, in order to be as chemically similar as possible to human milk and to better respond to the digestive and nutritional needs of the small infant, that is the baby of the first 4/6 months, all on the model of the breast-fed infant. For this reason, these are also called adapted milks or milks for infants .
In the absence of breast milk, the adapted milks represent, in current practice, the only viable alternative in the first 4-6 months of life. The ESPGAN committee for nutrition has provided for them precise composition indications both as regards the macros and the micronutrients, to which the various manufacturers have adapted.
The adapted milks are available in packs both in powder, to be reconstructed in oligomineral water at 13-14%, and already ready in the liquid state, and give sure guarantee both in terms of composition and sterility. They are generally indicated with the number 1 next to the trade name ( Aptamil, Humana, Eulac, Formulat, Mellin, Nativà, Milumil, Nidina, Nursilat, Nutrilac, Nutrilon premium, Premium, Primigiorni, Transilat, Similac, Vivena ). Many are integrated with carnicina and taurine; some with long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (EPA, DHA). All are supplemented with added vitamins, in particular D, however, despite the great progress made, the chemical composition of the adapted milk is still different in many respects from that of human milk and is particularly lacking in the immune defense factors.
