IT IS reputedly one of the most nutritious alternatives to dairy milk and a longstanding favourite among vegans.
But health researchers are warning parents against feeding almond milk to their babies after it caused a baby in Spain to develop scurvy.
The 11-month-old tot developed the disease after he was been fed solely an almond milk-based formula made for young babies from around the age of 10 weeks.
Scurvy, an incredibly rare disease in the developed world, is caused by vitamin C deficiency and in severe cases can lead to bleeding gums, bulging eyes and the stunting of bone growth.
It came to prominence during the 18th century when it became the scourge of sailors who didn’t have access to fresh produce.
While the formula fed to the baby boy was meant to include all essential nutrients, the way it was processed meant the vitamin C was not effective, researchers from La Fe university in Valencia hospital concluded in a report published in the US journal Pediatrics.
Lead author, paediatrician Isidro Vitoria, said that the child was born with a healthy body weight of just under three kilograms.
He had been fed standard formula milk for the first two and a half months of his life until his parents switched to almond milk on a doctor’s recommendation, after he developed a skin rash.
According to the report, the baby enjoyed the milk substitute and his development appeared normal, and he learnt to sit up at seven months without support.
But at eight months, the hospital’s report says, “he showed less interest in interacting and was more unstable when sitting”.
The baby’s parents realised something was wrong when the child was 11 months old and would cry when his limbs were moved and could no longer support his legs.
In hospital, X-rays found the baby had fractures in his legs and spine. He was diagnosed with scurvy and a lack of bone mass.
A diet of milk, cereals, fruit and vitamin C and D supplements improved the child’s condition and he began to walk normally at 13 months.
The researchers are now warning parents about feeding their young children a diet solely comprised of supposedly healthy plant-derived drinks, such as almond milk.
“When plant-based beverages are the exclusive diet in the first year of life and not consumed as a supplement to formula or breastfeeding, it can result in severe nutritional problems,” Dr Vitoria said.
“Manufacturers should indicate that these beverages are inappropriate for infants who consume a vitamin C deficient diet”.
But health researchers are warning parents against feeding almond milk to their babies after it caused a baby in Spain to develop scurvy.
The 11-month-old tot developed the disease after he was been fed solely an almond milk-based formula made for young babies from around the age of 10 weeks.
Scurvy, an incredibly rare disease in the developed world, is caused by vitamin C deficiency and in severe cases can lead to bleeding gums, bulging eyes and the stunting of bone growth.
It came to prominence during the 18th century when it became the scourge of sailors who didn’t have access to fresh produce.
While the formula fed to the baby boy was meant to include all essential nutrients, the way it was processed meant the vitamin C was not effective, researchers from La Fe university in Valencia hospital concluded in a report published in the US journal Pediatrics.
Lead author, paediatrician Isidro Vitoria, said that the child was born with a healthy body weight of just under three kilograms.
He had been fed standard formula milk for the first two and a half months of his life until his parents switched to almond milk on a doctor’s recommendation, after he developed a skin rash.
According to the report, the baby enjoyed the milk substitute and his development appeared normal, and he learnt to sit up at seven months without support.
But at eight months, the hospital’s report says, “he showed less interest in interacting and was more unstable when sitting”.
The baby’s parents realised something was wrong when the child was 11 months old and would cry when his limbs were moved and could no longer support his legs.
In hospital, X-rays found the baby had fractures in his legs and spine. He was diagnosed with scurvy and a lack of bone mass.
A diet of milk, cereals, fruit and vitamin C and D supplements improved the child’s condition and he began to walk normally at 13 months.
The researchers are now warning parents about feeding their young children a diet solely comprised of supposedly healthy plant-derived drinks, such as almond milk.
“When plant-based beverages are the exclusive diet in the first year of life and not consumed as a supplement to formula or breastfeeding, it can result in severe nutritional problems,” Dr Vitoria said.
“Manufacturers should indicate that these beverages are inappropriate for infants who consume a vitamin C deficient diet”.
Resource:http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/diet/almond-milk-linked-to-rare-scurvy-case/news-story/4f5a1655ec756f6d9b794c09f69b0100
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