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

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.