Proteins serve a number of important functions. Babies use
protein to build muscles, to carry nutrients in the blood, and to help fight infections.
In addition, protein can also be used as a source of energy. Consuming sufficient amounts of
protein is especially important in periods of rapid growth, like infancy.
Amino acids are the building blocks of protein
Proteins are composed of substances called amino acids. An easy way to understand proteins is
to think of proteins as chains. The amino acids are the individual links in the chains.
Essential amino acids
The human body can make all but ten amino acids. Because babies must get these ten amino
acids from their diet and because they are necessary for normal healthy growth, they are
called essential amino acids.
Breast milk is the 'gold standard'
Like almost all other nutrients, the amount of essential amino acids in human milk is felt to
be ideal for babies. Breast milk is thus the model, or 'gold standard', after which Bright
Beginnings milk-based formula is designed.
Bright Beginnings is a good source of essential amino acids
Bright Beginnings formulas use milk proteins to supply essential
amino acids in amounts like those found in breast milk.
| Essential Amino Acid Content (g/100g protein) |
| Amino Acid |
Breast Milk¹ |
Bright Beginnings Milk-based² |
Bright Beginnings Soy-based² |
| Histidine |
2.6 |
2.6 |
2.6 |
| Isoleucine |
5.7 |
5.3 |
5.3 |
| Lysine |
8.1 |
8.2 |
8.2 |
| Leucine |
10.5 |
9.8 |
9.8 |
| Methionine |
1.6 |
2.3 |
2.3 |
| Phenylalanine |
5.4 |
3.9 |
3.9 |
| Threonine |
5.1 |
5.4 |
5.4 |
| Tryptophan |
1.6 |
1.7 |
1.7 |
| Valine |
5.7 |
5.7 |
5.7 |
| Cystine |
2.7 |
1.6 |
1.6 |
| Tyrosine |
6.1 |
3.6 |
3.6 |
Whey and Casein
Breast milk contains two types of proteins: whey and casein. Whey is naturally found in greater amounts
than casein and is easier to digest because it is less likely to form curds, or
clumps, in the stomach of infants. Bright Beginnings contains whey and casein in a ratio like
that found in breast milk. In addition, Bright Beginnings has been heat-treated
to make the casein protein more digestible.
Cow's milk has excess protein for infants
Whole cow's milk contains about three times more protein than breast milk and has much more
casein than whey. Cow's milk also has a much higher mineral content than breast milk and
baby formula. For these reasons, cow's milk can stress a baby's intestines and kidneys and
should not be offered to infants until twelve months of age.
1. Fomon, SJ. Nutrition of Normal Infants. St Louis: CV Mosby, 1993
2. Data on file, PBM Nutritionals
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