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Research Article Open access CC BY 4.0

A Cross-sectional Study Assessing Gastrointestinal Symptoms, Eating Behavior and Parental Quality of Life in Chinese Infants Consuming Goat Milk-Based Formula or Cow’s Milk-Based Formula

V. Bunt, D. Goossens, J. Zhong, Y. Deng, K. Xie, J. Ma, J. Wu, Z. Wang, L. Li, B. Li, M. Chen, Y. Hou, L. van Lee, L. Van Der Zee

Asian Journal of Pediatric Research · pp. 27–37 · Published 20 Jan 2025

10.9734/ajpr/2025/v15i1419

Abstract

Objectives: Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms affect approximately half of infants and can adversely impact infants’ and parents’ quality of life. In this cross-sectional study, infants fed goat milk-based infant formula (GMF) and infants fed cow’s milk-based infant formula (CMF) were compared regarding milk-related symptoms, eating behavior and their parents’ quality of life (QOL). Methods: Healthy Chinese infants aged <6 months, who were either exclusively GMF- (n=303) or CMF-fed (n=464), were included. Parents completed four questionnaires: Cow’s Milk-related Symptom Score (CoMiSS®), Infant Gastrointestinal Symptom Questionnaire (IGSQ), World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire, and Baby Eating Behavior Questionnaire (BEBQ). Composite scores were compared between infants consuming GMF and CMF using Poisson regression or ANCOVA models. Results: Infants, mean age 87.8 days, scored low on overall CoMiSS® (median 2, IQR 0-4) and IGSQ (median 16, IQR 14-20), indicating low occurrence of symptoms. The overall CoMiSS® was lower in GMF-fed infants compared to CMF-fed infants (p<0.001), specifically driven by crying (p=0.006), skin eczema (p=0.014) and urticaria (p=0.039). Parents of GMF-fed infants experienced better QOL regarding social relationships compared to parents of CMF-fed infants (p=0.038). Differences in eating behavior were seen in food responsiveness (p=0.003) and slowness in eating (p=0.005). No differences were seen on total IGSQ and total WHO-QOL. Conclusions: Both infants consuming GMF and CMF showed normal scores on GI symptoms, eating behavior and their parents’ quality of life. Infants consuming GMF experience less milk-related symptoms than infants consuming CMF, based on lower CoMiSS® scores.

Infant gastrointestinal symptoms infants eating behavior parental quality of life

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