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Key Nutrients :

SMA Gold Can

All the right nutrients in the right amounts

New SMA Gold* contains the key nutrients in the right balance necessary for healthy growth.

SMA Gold contains a number of nutrients that naturally occur in breast milk – α-protein, long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPs), nucleotides, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

  • Protein
  • Fat
  • Carbohydrate
  • Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPs)
  • Nucleotides
  • Antioxidants (selenium)
  • Complete vitamin and mineral profile

SMA Gold is nutritionally complete and contains all the nutrients required for healthy growth and development. Full details of its nutritional composition are available here.

Protein

A major advance in infant nutrition

An adequate supply of protein is important in the infant diet, both to ensure adequate linear growth and to maintain cellular integrity and function.1 

SMA Nutrition was the first to introduce a whey protein-dominant formula balanced in a 60:40 (whey:casein) ratio similar to that of mature breast milk. Whey-dominant formulas are easily digested.

Bar graph to show a protein composition closer to breast milk
In 2007, SMA Nutrition once again lead the way in infant formula innovation by significantly improving the whey protein composition of SMA Gold.

SMA Gold protein formulation

  • SMA Gold now contains increased levels of α-protein, the predominant whey protein in breast milk,2,3 and reduced levels of β-protein, the predominant whey protein in cows' milk,  compared with typical whey-dominant formulae.
  • This change means that the protein profile of SMA Gold is now closer to that of breast milk.
  • Increased levels of α-protein also have other beneficial effects on infant development:
  • Improved essential amino acid profile 3,4,5
  • Reduced total protein content - this reduces strain on infant renal solute load
  • Tolerated similar to breast milk 5
  • Provides a prebiotic effect 1, 5
How do protein profiles compare now?
Piechart - Breast milk (mature)
Piechart - Typical whey-dominant formula
Piechart - SMA Gold
†alpha-lactalbumin
††beta-lactoglobulin

Fat

The unique fat blend in breast milk ensures optimal mineral absorption and good energy supply

SMA Gold contains a unique fat blend to support optimal energy supply and absorption of minerals, such as calcium for strong bones. The essential fatty acid ratio of linoleic to alpha-linolenic acid is 10.8:1 in SMA Gold. This is in the mid range of breast milk which is between 5.1 and 15.1.

Carbohydrate

100% lactose, a key energy source

The carbohydrate content of SMA Gold is, like breastmilk,100% lactose.
 
Lactose comprises of two sugars, glucose and galactose, joined together and is unique to milk as it does not occur naturally elsewhere in nature.

As well as providing a key energy source, lactose also aids the absorption of calcium.

Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

Important for healthy brain, nervous system and vision development

Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPs) help brain, eye and nervous system development.

SMA Gold contains two LCPs – AA (Arachidonic Acid) and DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid). Both AA and DHA are naturally present in breast milk.

A safe, unique form of LCPs

SMA Nutrition was the first company to add its LCPs to their infant milks in the same triglyceride form as that found in breast milk.

The AA and DHA found in SMA Gold are derived from a pure vegetable source that has been proven to be safe and effective at the level recommended by the Munich Workshop.7-12

LCP Levels in Breast milk and infant formula as recommended by the Munich Workshop10,11

 

AA % of fatty acids

 DHA % of fatty acids Ratio

Human Milk Europe

0.5

(0.2-1.2)

0.3

(0.1-0.6)

 1.8

(0.7-5.0)

Munich Workshop    
Recommendation
For healthy term
infants		 0.35^ 0.2^ (1.75)
SMA Gold 0.35^ 0.2^ (1.75)

 

^recommendation is that at least these levels that are at the lower end in breast milk, are present.

Click Research for more info on LCPs

Nucleotides

Helping to build an infant’s immunity

Without the right nutrients to help develop the immune system, infants may become susceptible to infection.

For this reason, SMA Gold contains nucleotides – which naturally occur in breast milk – to help develop the immune system.13, 14

Nucleotides are also important for a healthy gut. Found in all living cells of the body, nucleotides are essential for correct cellular function. They are often described as the building blocks of life.

Antioxidants

Protecting infants as they grow

SMA Gold also contains antioxidants, including selenium, to help protect against cell damage from free radicals.

Selenium plays an important role in helping maintain the immune system by scavenging for free radicals.

Complete Vitamin and Mineral Profile

Like all the SMA formula milks, SMA Gold contains a broad profile of macro and micronutrients, including key vitamins and minerals.

Detailed information on the composition of SMA Gold is available here.


†alpha-lactalbumin
††beta-lactoglobulin

References:

1. McDonald A. Focusing on Nutrition in Healthcare. Dietary Protein in Infancy. Complete Nutrition 2006; 6 (5):21-23.

2. Fomon SJ. Nutrition of normal infants. St Louis, MO: Mosby; 1993

3. Lien EL. Infant formulas with increased concentrations of a-lactalbumin. Am J Clinical Nutrition 2003; 77: 1555S-1558S

4. Jackson JG, Janzen DB, Lonnerdal B, Lien EL, et al. A multinational study of alpha-lactalbumin concentrations in human milk. J Nutr Bochem. 2004: 15; 517-521.

5. Davis AM et al. α-Lactalbumin-rich infant formula fed to healthy term infants in a Multicenter Study: Plasma Essential Amino Acids and Gastrointestinal Tolerance. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Advance online publication 25th July 2007.
http://www.nature.com/ejcn/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/1602848a.html#bib31. Last accessed March 2008.

6. Lien EL, Davis DM, Euler AR et al. Growth and safety in term Infants Fed Reduced-Protein Formula with added Bovine Alpha-lactalbumin. J Ped Gastrol Nutr 2004; 38: 170-176

7. Vanderhoof J, Gross S, et al. Evaluation of a Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Supplemented Formula on Growth, Tolerance, and Plasma Lipids in Preterm Infants up to 48 Weeks Postconceptional Age. J Ped Gastroent and Nutr 1999; 29: 318-326

8. Gibson RA, Makrides M, et al. A Randomized Trial of Arachidonic Acid Dose in Formulas Containing Docosahexaenoic Acid in Term Infants. Essential Fatty Acids and Eicosanoids: Invited papers from The Fourth International Congress, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. July 20 -24, 1997: 147-153

9. Morris G, Moorcroft J, et al. A novel infant formula milk with added long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids from single-cell sources: a study of growth, satisfaction and health. Eur Jour Clin Nutr 2000; 54: 883-886.

10. Koletzko, B, Thiel I, Springer, S. Lipids in human milk: a model for infant formulae? Eur J Clin Nutr. 1992 Dec;46 Suppl 4:S45-55. Review.

11. Koletzko B, Agostoni C, Carlson SE, Clandinin T, Hornstra G, Neuringer M, Uauy R, Yamashiro Y, Willatts P.Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) and perinatal development. Acta Paediatr. 2001 Apr;90(4):460-4. Review.

12. Koletzko B, Thiel I, Abiodun PO.The fatty acid composition of human milk in Europe and Africa. J Pediatr. 1992 Apr;120 (4 Pt 2):S62-70. Review.

13. Carver JD et al. Dietary nucleotide effects upon immune function in infants. Pediatrics 1991; 88: 359-363

14. Carver JD. Dietary nucleotide effects on the immune and gastrointestinal systems. Acta Paediatr Supp 1999; 430: 83-88

15. Bettler J and Kullen MJ. Infant formula enriched with alpha-lactalbumin has a prebiotic effect in healthy term infants. Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition 2007 44 supp 1 e l-e360

IMPORTANT NOTICE:  Breast feeding is best for babies.  Infant milks are intended to replace breast milk when mothers do not breast feed.  Good maternal nutrition is important for the preparation and maintenance of breast feeding. Introducing partial bottle feeding may have a negative effect on breast feeding and reversing a decision not to breast feed is difficult.  You should always seek the advice of a doctor, midwife, health visitor, public health nurse, dietitian or pharmacist on the need for and proper method of use of infant milks and on all matters of infant feeding.  Infant milk should always be prepared and used as directed.  Unnecessary or improper use of infant milk may present a health hazard.  Social and financial implications should be considered when selecting a method of infant feeding.

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This information is intended for use only by residents of the UK and ROI
© 2008 SMA Nutrition