A systematic comparison between infant formula compositions using the Bray-Curtis Similarity Index.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Making an informed choice between the available infant formulas is challenging, as there is no unbiased tool allowing a systematic comparison between the very long lists of infant formula compositions.

Aim

The aim is to present the Bray-Curtis Similarity Index (BCSI) as a tool for systematic comparison between standard stage-1 infant formula (SS-1-IF) compositions.

Methods

We obtained the nutrient levels from the packaging labels of 23 SS-1-IFs available in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, in April 2018. The international legislations that launched infant formula standards endorse targeting the minimum rather than the maximum proposed nutrients levels. Thus, we blindly compared between displayed nutrients levels on each of the 23-studied SS-1-IF and the minimum inter

SUBMITTER: Al-Abdi S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7193073 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature