Baby’s Only Organic® is the first USDA Certified Organic SOY formula in the U.S.
Nature's One® organic commitment assures only natural and organic ingredients with no artificial flavors, sweeteners, colors, genetically modified ingredients, hexane solvents, pesticides or added growth hormones.
Nature's One® does not manufacture or purchase any ingredients from China. Baby’s Only Organic® Toddler Formulas Do Not Contain Martek's DHA & ARA Fatty Acids.
Made without GMO ingredients and contains no lactose, dairy, no wheat or wheat gluten, no palm olein oil, no corn or corn syrup, no sucrose, and no peanut.
The links below provide an explanation of how the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients found in Baby's Only Organic® Formulas play an important role in your baby's health:
Vitamins and minerals are essential nutrients needed by the body to perform all of its functions, thus they are essential for proper growth, development, and body maintenance. Vitamins are organic, meaning they come from living organisms. Minerals are inorganic, meaning they do not come from living organisms but from substances such as limestone, shells, or the earth. Except for two vitamins (Vitamin D and niacin), humans cannot make their own vitamins and minerals. They must be obtained from foods preferably or supplements if needed.
As important as vitamins are to the body, they can do nothing without minerals. Vitamins and minerals work together and are used as catalysts for many reactions that take place in the body. For example, vitamin C helps the body to absorb the mineral iron needed for healthy blood. The synergistic effect of calcium and Vitamin D in promoting good bone health is well known. Specific amounts of vitamins and minerals are needed for bodily functions. Too much or too little of any one of them can cause illness. The lack of Vitamin D, for example, can cause rickets (poor bone development). Too little iron in the diet results in anemia.
The best source of vitamins and minerals is food. Sometimes the body needs more than a person can consume from foods. Pregnant and lactating women will usually be advised to take a daily vitamin and mineral supplement. Breastfed infants may need an iron supplement after six months of age. Postmenopausal women need a calcium and Vitamin D supplement to prevent osteoporosis. Picky eaters, especially those who won’t eat specific types of foods, like fruits and vegetables, may need a daily vitamin and mineral supplement. Whenever there is any question about the need for a supplement, it’s always best to consult with your healthcare professional.
Many of the signs and symptoms of a vitamin or mineral deficiency or excess are very general and can result from a variety of medical conditions. It is always important to have your healthcare professional evaluate any symptoms so that appropriate care is given.
Vitamins are often characterized as being water-soluble or fat-soluble. If the body does not need all of the water-soluble vitamins you consume, then the excess is excreted in the urine. However, this is not the case with fat-soluble vitamins. Any excess of fat-soluble vitamins gets stored in the body and they are not excreted. This can cause illness (hypervitaminosis). The fat-soluble vitamins are A, D, E and K. All other vitamins are water-soluble.
Vitamin A: This is important for the development of bones and teeth and helps maintain the gums. It is essential for night vision, healthy skin, hair and mucous membranes. It is sometimes referred to as the anti-infective vitamin because it is required for the proper functioning of the immune system and helps prevent infection.
Baby’s Only Organic® Dairy & Soy Formulas: 300 IU (per 100 calories)
Good animal sources of Vitamin A include: milk and dairy products, organ meats such as liver.
Good plant sources of the pro Vitamin A carotenoids include: deep yellow and orange fruits and vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, and dark green leafy vegetables.
Vitamin D: This is also known as cholecalciferol or Vitamin D3, is often called the sunshine vitamin because of the body’s ability to make it from the interaction of the sun on the skin. Vitamin D is essential for the development and maintenance of healthy bones and teeth. Vitamin D also helps the body properly utilize calcium and phosphorus for the proper functioning of the nervous system.
Baby’s Only Organic® Dairy & Soy Formulas: 60 IU (per 100 calories)
Good Food Sources: fortified milk, cheese, eggs, some fish such as sardines and salmon, and fish oils.
Vitamin E: Vitamin E is a term used to describe a family of eight antioxidants – 4 tocopherols and 4 tocotrienols. The names of all types of vitamin E begin with either “d” or “dl,” which refer to differences in chemical structure. The “d” form, as used in Baby's Only Organic® formulas, is natural (also known as RRR-alpha tocopherol). The “dl” form is synthetic (more correctly known as all-rac-alpha tocopherol) and is not used in Baby’s Only Organic® formulas. Only alpha-tocopherol is the form actively used in the body and is, therefore, the form of Vitamin E found in the largest quantity in blood and tissues. Baby’s Only Organic® formulas contain natural Vitamin E, which is identified in the ingredient panel of the formula labels as natural alpha tocopheryl acetate. Natural vitamin E is more active and may be as much as twice the bioavailability of synthetic vitamin E. Many healthcare professionals advise people to use only the natural form of vitamin E.
Vitamin E protects Vitamin A and the essential fatty acids from oxidation in the body. It is needed for the proper functioning of nerves and muscles and helps to form red blood cells, muscle and other tissues.
Baby’s Only Organic® Dairy & Soy Formulas: 2 IU (per 100 calories)
Good Food Sources: poultry, seafood, green leafy vegetables, egg yolk, nuts, seeds, wheat germ, whole grains.
Vitamin K: There are three types:
• Vitamin K1 or phylloquinone which is found in plants* • Vitamin K2 or menaquinone which is synthesized by many bacteria • Vitamin K3 or menadione which is a synthetic form
Vitamin K helps the blood to clot when the body is injured and is important in bone development and repair. In newborn infants, there is a life threatening and preventable bleeding disorder known as Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB). This is the reason why it is standard practice to give all newborns an injection of phylloquinone after birth.
Baby’s Only Organic® Dairy & Soy Formulas: 8.5 mcg (per 100 calories)
Good Food Sources: green leafy vegetables, pork, liver, oats, wheat bran, whole grains.
Biotin is part of the B-complex of vitamins. It is thought to play a role in cell growth and is important in the metabolism of fats, carbohydrates (sugars), and some amino acids (the building blocks of protein).
Baby’s Only Organic® Dairy & Soy Formulas: 3 mcg (per 100 calories)
Good Food Sources: eggs, meats, fish, nuts, seeds, dried beans and peas (legumes).
Folic acid, sometimes called folate or folacin or Vitamin B9, works with vitamins B6 and B12 in protein metabolism. It is needed to make genetic material (DNA and RNA). It promotes normal red blood cell formation and reduces the risk of neural tube (brain and spine) birth defects. This is one reason why a folic acid supplement is recommended during pregnancy.
Baby’s Only Organic® Dairy & Soy Formulas: 15 mcg (per 100 calories
Good Food Sources: poultry, liver, dark green leafy vegetables, dried beans and peas (legumes), yeast breads, wheat germ, cereals, oranges, grapefruits.
Niacin, also known as nicotinic acid or Vitamin B3, is found in every cell of the body. It is necessary for energy production and to maintain the normal functioning of skin, nerves and the digestive tract. It can be manufactured by the body from the amino acid tryptophan. However, the amount needed by the body will usually exceed the amount that the body can produce and it is necessary to consume niacin from foods.
Baby’s Only Organic® Dairy & Soy Formulas: 1100 mcg (per 100 calories)
Good Food Sources: poultry, fish (especially tuna and salmon), beef, peanuts and peanut butter, seeds, potatoes.
Pantothenic acid is also known as Vitamin B5. It is involved in numerous chemical reactions in the body and is essential for the metabolism of fat and sugars. Pantothenic acid is also involved in the manufacture of chemicals that regulate nerve functions.
Baby’s Only Organic® Dairy & Soy Formulas: 450 mcg (per 100 calories)
Good Food Sources: meat, fish, poultry, egg yolk, whole grain cereals, dried beans and peas (legumes).
Riboflavin: also known as Vitamin B2, is found in every cell of the body and is needed for energy production. It also helps to maintain vision and the metabolism and proper functioning of skin and nerve cells.
Baby’s Only Organic® Dairy & Soy Formulas: 100 mcg (per 100 calories)
Good Food Sources: milk and dairy products, enriched breads, eggs, meats (especially organ meats like liver), green leafy vegetables, grains.
Thiamin: This is also known as Vitamin B1 and is important for the normal functioning of the nervous system. Thiamin also participates in the body’s ability to use protein and sugars for energy production.
Baby’s Only Organic® Dairy & Soy Formulas: 100 mcg (per 100 calories)
Good Food Sources: whole grain and enriched grain products, pork, seafood, cereals.
Vitamin B6: This can also be referred to as pyridoxine or pyridoxal. This vitamin influences many body functions including the regulation of blood sugar levels, the manufacturing of hemoglobin in red blood cells which carries oxygen to all body cells, and the functioning of the nervous system. As protein intake increases, so does the body’s need for Vitamin B6. Also, an adequate Vitamin B6 intake decreases the requirement for niacin from food sources because it aids in the conversion of tryptophan to niacin.
Baby’s Only Organic® Dairy & Soy Formulas: 60 mcg (per 100 calories)
Good Food Sources: chicken, fish, pork, liver, whole grains, cereals, spinach, sweet and white potatoes, bananas, prunes, watermelon.
Vitamin B12: This is also known as cobalamin because it contains the mineral cobalt. It is crucial in the reproduction of every cell in the body because it is needed to make DNA, the genetic material required for life. Vitamin B12 is essential for normal growth, healthy nerve tissue, and the formation of blood cells.
Baby’s Only Organic® Dairy Formula: 0.2 mcg (per 100 calories)
Baby’s Only Organic® Soy Formula: 0.45 mcg (per 100 calories)
Good Food Sources: All foods of animal origin (meat, fish, poultry, eggs, milk and other dairy products) and seafood.
Vitamin C is also known as ascorbic acid. Vitamin C has received a lot of attention because of its major role in the body as an antioxidant, a substance that prevents damage to cells from free radicals and pollutants, and as a protector against infections, particularly the common cold. Vitamin C plays a role in nerve transmission, tissue repair, the conversion of cholesterol to bile acids, and the enhancement of iron absorption. Vitamin C is used by the body to make collagen, the connective tissue in skin, ligaments and bones.
Inositol is not a true vitamin because the body can manufacture what it needs. However, it is often considered a water-soluble member of the vitamin B family. Inositol works with choline to help transport fat from the liver. It also helps maintain cell membranes and is involved in the proper functioning of the nervous system.
Choline is not a true vitamin because the body can manufacture small amounts of it. However, it must be consumed from foods to meet overall body needs especially during times of rapid growth and development such as pregnancy, lactation, infancy, and early childhood. Choline is an essential nutrient necessary for the structure and function of all cells in the body.
Three minerals (calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium) account for 98% of the body’s mineral content and are especially important for bone health. In addition to these major minerals, the body also needs minuscule amounts of other minerals called trace elements. Trace elements such as iron, zinc, iodine are essential for the body’s enzyme systems to function properly. Three minerals (sodium, potassium, and chloride) are known as electrolytes because of their function in the body to conduct electrical currents.
The body can regulate the balance of minerals. If a person consumes more minerals than are needed, any excess is excreted. If the body lacks a mineral, it will compensate for this lack by absorbing more of the mineral from foods consumed. Otherwise, mineral supplements are usually unnecessary except in chronic conditions where food intake is limited or when nutrient absorption is affected.
There are a few exceptions to this. An infant is born with iron stores that will last for 4 to 6 months. An iron supplement (or use of an iron-fortified formula for non-breastfed infants) will be recommended to prevent iron-deficiency anemia. During pregnancy, an iron supplement is often recommended to prevent anemia in mom and to assure a good iron supply to the fetus. Calcium along with Vitamin D is often recommended to postmenopausal women to prevent osteoporosis.
The following is information on the major minerals and trace elements needed by the body.
Calcium: Although the major function of calcium is the formation and maintenance of bones and teeth, it is also needed to keep the heart pumping, muscles moving, and nerves communicating. Calcium helps regulate the passage of nutrients in and out of cells, assists in normal blood clotting, and is important to normal kidney functioning.
Good Food Sources: milk and dairy products, fish with edible bones (such as sardines and salmon), oysters, tofu, dark leafy green vegetables.
Phosphorus: This teams with calcium to aid in bone and teeth formation, kidney function, and heart contraction. The balance of calcium and phosphorus is important in the body, especially in infancy, to ensure that the team works together well in keeping the body’s chemical balance.
Good Food Sources: milk and dairy products, meat, fish, eggs, nuts, dried beans and peas (legumes).
Magnesium: This works with calcium and Vitamin C to maintain bone health. It is also necessary for energy production, the making of proteins used by the body to make cells and genetic material, the transmission of nerve impulses, the contraction and relaxation of the muscles, and maintaining the delicate electrical balance of all body cells.
Baby’s Only Organic® Dairy Formula: 9 mg (per 100 calories)
Baby’s Only Organic® Soy Formula: 20 mg (per 100 calories)
Good Food Sources: soybeans and soy products, nuts, whole grains, dried beans and peas (legumes), green vegetables, whole grain breads and cereals, shellfish.
Iron: As blood passes through the tiny air sacs in the lung, oxygen attaches itself to the iron in the blood. That’s how oxygen is carried to all parts of the body. Iron combines with protein and copper to make hemoglobin, a necessary component of red blood cells that carries oxygen to the cells. Iron also is a component of myoglobin, a protein that stores oxygen specifically in muscle tissue. Approximately 90% of iron in the body is conserved and reused every day.
Good Food Sources: meat (especially organ meats like liver), dried fruits (raisins, apricots), nuts, green leafy vegetables.
Zinc: This is needed for cell growth and repair, digestion and metabolism of nutrients, and is vital to the development of the reproductive organs. It also helps regulate the body’s immune response to infection and aids in wound healing.
Good Food Sources: beef, liver, oysters, wheat germ, beans, nuts.
Selenium: In combination with Vitamin E, selenium works as an antioxidant to help maintain a healthy heart. Selenium provides elasticity to tissues and helps cells to defend themselves against damage from oxidation. Selenium also aids in the proper functioning of the pancreas.
Baby’s Only Organic® Dairy & Soy Formulas: 2.5 mcg (per 100 calories)
Good Food Sources: seafood, poultry, egg yolks, whole grain breads and cereals, eggs, mushrooms.
Copper: This is necessary for the absorption and utilization of iron in the body. Copper has an important role in the making of red blood cells and nerve fibers. It also works with Vitamin C to form elastin, a chief component of muscle fibers in the body. Copper is involved in hair and skin coloring, sensitivity to taste.
Baby’s Only Organic® Dairy & Soy Formulas: 70 mcg (per 100 calories)
Good Food Sources: Organ meats like liver, lobster, nuts, dried beans and peas (legumes), barley, prunes.
Iodine: This is probably best known for keeping the thyroid gland healthy. It is also involved in metabolizing fats and in regulating energy production.
Baby’s Only Organic® Dairy & Soy Formulas: 10 mcg (per 100 calories)
Good Food Sources: iodized salt, seafood.
Manganese: This is used by the body as a preferred cofactor in several important enzyme systems and is essential for a healthy tendon and bone structure. It is necessary for the metabolism of thiamine and Vitamin E and helps to maintain the health of the immune and nervous systems.
Baby’s Only Organic® Dairy Formula: 21 mcg (per 100 calories)
Baby’s Only Organic® Soy Formula: 55 mcg (per 100 calories)
Good Food Sources: whole grains and cereals, nuts, leafy vegetables, molasses, soybeans, sunflower seeds, and tea.
Potassium: This is an electrolyte and works with sodium to regulate the body’s waste balance, transmit nerve impulses, and regulate muscle contraction including the heart muscles. It is essential for metabolism and the release of insulin. In infants and young children who have diarrhea or vomiting, an oral electrolyte solution containing a balance among sodium, potassium and chloride is usually recommended to help prevent the body from becoming dehydrated due to a deficiency in these electrolytes.
Baby’s Only Organic® Dairy Formula: 120 mg (per 100 calories)
Baby’s Only Organic® Soy Formula: 140 mg (per 100 calories)
Good Food Sources: bananas, citrus fruits, dried fruits, deep yellow vegetables, potatoes, milk, bran cereal.
Sodium: The primary role of sodium in the body is to maintain fluid balance. Sodium is an electrolyte and works with potassium and chloride to conduct electrical currents in the body and keep tissue fluids in balance. A deficiency of sodium is rare but loss of sodium through diarrhea, vomiting, or excessive sweating can cause dehydration, muscle cramps, weakness, and headaches. This is especially critical in infants and young children and the reason for use of an oral electrolyte solution with a balance of sodium, potassium and chloride when a child has diarrhea and vomiting.
Good Food Sources: salt, milk, processed foods such as luncheon meats.
Chloride: This is an electrolyte and helps to maintain fluid balance in the body and also is a component of the stomach juices (hydrochloric acid) needed for digestion of foods. A deficiency of chloride is rare but loss of chloride through diarrhea, vomiting, or excessive sweating can cause an upset in the body’s fluid balance resulting in dehydration. In infants and young children who have diarrhea or vomiting, an oral electrolyte solution containing a balance among sodium, potassium and chloride is usually recommended to help prevent the body from becoming dehydrated.
Baby’s Only Organic® Dairy Formula: 80 mg (per 100 calories)
Baby’s Only Organic® Soy Formula: 60 mg (per 100 calories)
Good Food Sources: salt, milk, processed foods such as luncheon meats.
Carbohydrates are one of the crucial dietary sources of energy that support the brain, enable muscular contractions, and provide the fuel necessary for a baby’s and toddler’s rapid growth, especially through 24-months of age. Each gram of carbohydrate provides 4 Calories. So it is important for a child to get adequate amounts of carbohydrates each day from good food sources.
Carbohydrates are sometimes simply called sugars or starches. They are classified scientifically as monosaccharides, disaccharides, or polysaccharides.
Monosaccharide is a one molecule sugar (referred to as a simple sugar or simple carbohydrate). Examples are glucose (sometimes called dextrose), fructose (sometimes called fruit sugar), and galactose. Glucose is the major fuel needed by the body for energy. This is why intravenous fluids (IVs) used in medical situations contain glucose (dextrose).
Disaccharide is made up of two monosaccharides (referred to as a simple sugar or simple carbohydrate). Lactose (sometimes called milk sugar) is made by the joining of one glucose molecule with one galactose molecule. Sucrose (also called table sugar) is made by joining one molecule of fructose with one molecule of glucose. The body breaks down disaccharides into monosaccharides and then converts these to glucose providing needed energy for the body. Baby’s Only Organic® Lactose Free and Soy formulas do not contain lactose; none of our formulas contain sucrose.
Polysaccharide contains more than two sugar molecules. Examples of polysaccharides include organic brown rice syrup, as is found in Baby’s Only Organic® formulas, corn syrup, molasses, and starches. Polysaccharides are often called complex sugars or complex carbohydrates.
Simple sugars are quickly digested and absorbed by the body into the bloodstream. As sugar levels rise in the blood, the pancreas secretes the hormone insulin. Insulin is needed to move the sugar from the blood into the cells where the sugar is then used for energy. When this process goes fast, a feeling of hunger will more likely occur sooner. When it occurs slower, the body appears to be satisfied from hunger longer. Simple sugars usually cause blood sugar levels to rise quicker than complex sugars and increase the production and release of insulin by the pancreas. If the sugar in the bloodstream is not used by the body for energy, then it is stored as fat.
The longer the carbohydrate length, the slower the body breaks it down and, thus, the slower the absorption of the sugar from the intestinal tract into the bloodstream. If there is a slower absorption of the sugar, there is a slower release of insulin. Also, a slower digestion lets the body utilize the sugar for energy and there’s less potential for the sugar to be converted into fat.
Breast Milk is unique in its properties and cannot be duplicated. There are many unique compositional features in breast milk that result in its easy digestion by infants, including factors that help the breakdown of nutrients and their absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. There is no comparing the lactose digestion of a breast fed infant to that of a formula fed infant because manufactured formulas do not contain the many other compositional features of breast milk.
Added Lactose The lactose used in formulas is derived from cow’s milk without the benefit of the unique features of human breast milk. In formulas containing only lactose as the source of carbohydrate, some of the lactose comes into the formula naturally as a part of the cow’s milk and the remainder is added lactose. The added lactose brings the total carbohydrate level to the requirement needed in a formula. In other words, the amount of lactose that comes in naturally with the cow’s milk does not totally meet the needs of a baby and additional lactose must be added. The only lactose contained in Baby’s Only Organic® Dairy Formula is naturally occurring lactose derived from organic cow’s milk.
Organic Brown Rice Syrup The carbohydrate source added to Baby’s Only Organic® formulas is organic brown rice syrup. Rice is known to be a relatively non-allergenic food and well tolerated by infants. As a result, rice cereal is often the first food introduced to older infants. Organic brown rice syrup also offers the benefit of slower digestion and absorption providing a steadier level of sugar being absorbed into the bloodstream, a more even production and release of insulin, and a more even supply of energy to the body’s cells. In addition, Nature’s One® organic brown rice syrup is grown and processed without the use of chemicals.
Baby’s Only Organic® Lactose Free & Soy Formulas are the only lactose-free formulas in the U.S. that do not contain corn syrup or sucrose (table sugar). Baby’s Only Organic® Dairy Formula contains naturally occurring lactose without the added lactose as found in leading brand formulas. The chart below explains the primary differences between the three formulas manufactured by Nature’s One®.
BABY’S ONLY ORGANIC® FORMULAS
Dairy Formula
Lactose Free Formula
Soy Formula
Dairy Based
Milk Based
Soy Protein Based
60% Naturally Occurring Organic Lactose
Lactose Free*
Lactose Free; Dairy Free
40% Organic Brown Rice Syrup
100% Organic Brown Rice Syrup
100% Organic Brown Rice Syrup
*Do not use for children with galactosemia.
Lactose Intolerance Unlike other formula makers, Nature’s One® prefers to add organic brown rice syrup to its Dairy-based formula rather than more lactose. There are many children and adults who either lack or do not produce adequate levels of the enzyme lactase which is necessary to digest lactose. For example, preterm infants are often fed a lactose-free formula because of their inability to manufacture adequate lactase. When there are inadequate levels of lactase in the gastrointestinal tract, this is referred to as lactose intolerance. Symptoms include bloating, flatulence, loose stools, and in some cases diarrhea. If an infant does not produce enough lactase, then lactose will be a problem. Also, following an illness that causes diarrhea, such as the flu, the intestinal tract’s ability to make lactase is compromised. This is often why healthcare professionals will recommend a lactose free formula for children who have had a bout of diarrhea.
There is also a medical condition called galactosemia whereby a person cannot digest galactose, which is part of lactose. As noted previously, lactose is made of galactose and glucose. For people with galactosemia, they MUST avoid any dairy product or other foods that contain lactose and galactose. Baby’s Only Organic® Soy formula is appropriate for babies with galactosemia.
Baby’s Only Organic® Formulas: 10.8 g (per 100 calories) Good Food Sources Complex Carbohydrate: brown rice
Proteins are essential to life and are necessary for the body’s manufacturing and maintenance of all cells and tissues, including organ and brain development, and the making of essential body constituents such as hormones and enzymes. If excess protein is consumed and not needed by the body, it is converted to fat and stored by the body as a potential future energy source. Each gram of protein provides 4 Calories.
Proteins are made up of amino acids; there are 20 amino acids. Both our dairy-based and a soy-based formulas provide all of the essential and non-essential amino acids needed to support growth and development.
The protein source in Baby’s Only Organic® Soy Formula is organic soy protein concentrate. This protein source is recommended when an infant is intolerant to cow’s milk or a family prefers a vegetarian lifestyle.
Methionine: The amino acid methionine is added to Baby’s Only Organic® Soy Formula to improve the overall protein quality of the formula. Methionine is a required addition to all soy formulas based on research showing improved protein bioavailability in infants fed a methionine supplemented soy formula.
Carnitine: Although not an amino acid but an amino acid derivative, Carnitine is also added to Baby’s Only Organic® Soy Formula. Carnitine is plentiful in animal proteins, but is deficient in plant proteins. Carnitine is required by the body in using long-chain fatty acids and in energy production. Carnitine is added to all soy formulas to the level in breast milk.
Taurine: Like carnitine, Taruine is also not an amino acid but an amino acid derivative. Taurine functions as an antioxidant and is involved as a part of bile acids in early infancy. Taurine is abundant in human milk but not in cow’s milk protein or soy protein. Taurine is added to Baby’s Only Organic® Dairy and Soy formulas to the level in breast milk.
When children have an allergic reaction to cow’s milk protein and soy protein, hydrolyzed formulas are often recommended. The cow’s milk protein has been treated to break down the protein, which reduces the allergy potential of the protein. There are presently no organic hydrolyzed formulas on the market.
Baby’s Only Organic® Soy Formula: 2.8 grams protein (per 100 Calories)
The term “lipid” refers to compounds including oils, waxes, animal fats and triglycerides that do not dissolve in water. Lipids are most commonly referred to simply as fats.
Fats constitute the principal structural material of all living cells and are an important source of energy. Healthy skin and hair are maintained by fat. Fat also helps the body absorb and move the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K through the bloodstream. Dietary fat intake provides needed essential fatty acids to the body. These essential fatty acids are linoleic acid and linolenic acid. These are fatty acids that the body cannot make and which must be derived from foods.
Fats provide 9 Calories per gram, more than twice the amount of energy provided by a gram of carbohydrate or protein. An excess of dietary Calories provided by carbohydrates, proteins or fats will be stored in the body as adipose tissue. Adipose tissue serves as insulation for the body’s cells and organs but an excess of fat can lead to overweight and obesity.
Triglycerides are the chemical form of fats that exist in foods as well as in the body. Animal fats, such as butter and lard, tend to be solid or semisolid at room temperature and are more saturated than fats from plant sources. Fats from plant sources are usually liquid at room temperature and are called oils. Most plant oils are made up of unsaturated fatty acids with the exception of coconut, palm, and palm kernel oils. There are two types of unsaturated fats:
• Monounsaturated fats: Examples include olive and canola oils.
• Polyunsaturated fats: Examples include fish, safflower, sunflower, corn, and soybean oils.
Fats are important nutrient for infants and young children. They are needed to support growth, development and energy needs. A child who is not eating or drinking foods with adequate amounts of essential fatty acids can develop a fatty acid deficiency. This is one reason why healthcare professionals strongly advise against the use of skim or low fat milks during early childhood. Signs of an essential fatty acid deficiency include poor growth, scaly skin lesions, dry brittle nails, dandruff, and lack of hair luster.
More than 98% of the fat in human breast milk is in the form of triglycerides. The most abundant triglycerides in breast milk are the saturated fatty acids oleic acid and palmitic acid. It also contains high proportions of the essential fatty acids linoleic fatty acid and linolenic fatty acid. Human milk also contains the non-essential polyunsaturated fatty acids, DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and ARA (arachidonic acid).1
The fat blend of Baby’s Only Organic® formulas consists of organic high oleic sunflower oil, organic coconut oil, and organic soybean oil. This blend was developed because the percentages of the various types of fats are similar to breast milk. This combination of oils also provides appropriate levels of the essential fatty acids, linoleic acid and linolenic acid.
Baby’s Only Essentials® DHA and ARA Fatty Acid Supplement is formulated specifically for infants and toddlers using the proper balance of DHA & ARA that meet the 1:2 ratio requirements established for a baby less than two years of age.2
1. Prentice, Ann. “Constituents of human milk,” Food and Nutrition Bulletin, 17:4, December, 1996. 2. Carlson, SE, Cooke, RJ, Werkman, SH et al. “First year growth of preterm infants fed standard compared to marine oil n-3 supplemented formula.” Lipids. 1992; 27:901-907.
