Retinol and α-tocopherol in infant formulas produced in the EEC

The level of compliance in preterm and term infant formulas between levels of vitamin A (retinol), vitamin E (α-tocopherol), and the vitamin E/long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) ratio with the label declarations and the European Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition (ESPGAN) recommendations was studied in 30 commercially available infant formulas in Spain, France, Germany and England. The mean values±standard deviation were 89.5±34.5 μg/100 kcal for analysed vitamin A (VA), 2.01±1.17 mg/100 kcal for vitamin E (VE) and 2.44±1.46 mg VE/g PUFA. VE levels were higher (p<0.05) in preterm infant formulas (3.24±0.48 μg/100 kcal) than in term infant formulas (2.13±0.29 μg/100 kcal). These differences were not found in VA levels. When the mean VE levels of formulas produced by the various firms were compared on the basis of percentage of label declaration, significant differences (p<0.05) were found. Analysed VA ranged from 50 to 236% of the label declaration concentration. Mean analysed VE levels ranged from 68 to 256% of declared levels in infant formulas. While 85% of the formulas showed analysed vitamin E levels above the label declaration, 60% of analysed vitamin A levels were lower. Twenty per cent of infant formulas presented VA levels lower than recommendations. All infant formulas observed ESPGAN recommendations on their labels except one, in which the labelled VE concentration was lower. ©