STUDY THE NUTRITIONAL PROPERTIES OF SOME INFANT FORMULA AVAILABLE IN KUFA AND NAJAF LOCAL MARKETS

This study was conducted to evaluated nutritional properties of some infant formulas available in the local markets and their effects on the growth and nutritional status of rats and their body organs. This experiment was designed using 42 white male rats (Albino) with initial average weight of 50±5 g, they were divided into 7 groups of 6 rats per group. The experiment continuous for 28 days during which the rats were fed on infant milk formula treatments T1, T2 and T3 to age less than 6 month (Nactalia1, Dielac1 and Evolac1) respectively, and in treatments T4, T5,T6 feed on infant milk formula for age more than 6 month (Celia2, Dielac2 and Sunny baby2) respectively, and the rest of rats in control treatment fed on standard provender and filter water. The results showed significant (P≤0.05) decrease in final weight rate of rats in T3 which was 118.7 g recording the lowest weight gained 72.8 g during the experiment period, while treatment T5 recorded the highest weight increase gained reaching 118.4 g and final weight rate (169.8 g). In control treatment was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher in amount food intake compared to all other treatments, while treatments T2 and T3 have the higher and lower amount of food intake respectively.. On the other hand, it was noted decrease in relative weight of rats kidneys in treatment T1, T2 and T3 compare with the control treatment, which recorded the highest average of relative weight for rats kidneys of 1.086 g.