For certain rare genetic diseases such as galactosemia,1 (identified through the early newborn metabolic סכיכה)2 non-milk-based human milk substitutes are the suggested feeding option.
For galactosemia, because the lactose in human milk and dairy-based formulas cause life-threatening symptoms in newborns, newborns must be given soy-based or elemental formulas, even when parents are still waiting for a confirmation of a diagnosis after an abnormal result from initial newborn screening.
Reasons for infants to require specialized formula instead of human milk:3
- Infants with classic galactosemia: a special galactose-free formula is needed.
- Infants with maple syrup urine disease: a special formula free of leucine, isoleucine, and valine is needed.
- Infants with phenylketonuria: a special phenylalanine-free formula is needed (some breastfeeding is possible, under careful monitoring).
There are medical reasons pertaining to the health of the lactating parent to not breastfeed as well.4
הבא: Risks and ethics of human milk substitutes
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- CDC - הגלקטוזמיה ↩︎
- Commonly referred to as the heel prick or PKU test but it is an extensive panel. Health Resources & Services Administration – פאנל סינון אחיד מומלץ ↩︎
- The Codex Alimentarius sets guidelines on formulated complementary foods for infants 6-12 months and young children 12-36 חודשים. ארם Alimentarius. 2017. Guidelines on Formulated Complementary Foods for Older Infants and Young Children
↩︎ - WHO - Acceptable medical reasons for use of breast-milk substitutes ↩︎
