The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a warning after three babies were hospitalised for brain damage after being fed homemade alkaline formula milk.
As per the CDC report, three infants were rushed to the emergency units between August 2020 to February 2021 because of nutritional deficiency.
It was later found that the infants were given homemade formula milk based on recipes from an alkaline diet.
Babies Fed Homemade Alkaline Formula Milk, Hospitalised With Rickets
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While the three affected children belonged to Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, in the United States; some other cases were also unearthed where the babies suffered from severe hypocalcemia as well as rickets after consuming homemade alkaline formula milk.
For the uninitiated, hypocalcemia is a condition that arises from a deficiency of calcium in the bloodstream. It can result in brain damage, where the patient may suffer from confusion, memory loss, hallucinations or depression.
As for rickets, it is a condition that affects children mostly. It can happen when bones get weak due to prolonged Vitamin D deficiency. Resultantly, it can stunt growth and cause seizures. The child’s spine can also get affected, and thus lead to bone or dental deformities.
Here’s a breakdown of these three prominent cases.
- Case 1: The first infant was fed homemade formula milk that was made from dates, coconut milk and sea moss. The baby developed a protruding forehead and faced difficulty in sitting on his own, along with other developmental delays. He was diagnosed with iron deficiency and rickets. Even after leaving the hospital, the baby was admitted to a long-term care facility.
- The other two cases were reported earlier this year in January.
- Case 2: A 5-month old baby was given homemade formula milk made with hemp seeds, dates, sea moss and alkaline water. He was also diagnosed with rickets at the hospital. He was given high-dose intravenous magnesium and calcium. The baby was finally discharged after being placed on a diet of commercial infant formula.
- Case 3: The third infant was a 4-month-old boy who was being given homemade formula diet comprising hemp seeds, sea moss, and coconut water. He was taken to the hospital after experiencing respiratory problems and was diagnosed with rickets.
CDC Cautions Parents About Homemade Formula Milk
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Each of these infants was fed homemade alkaline formula milk.
Responding to it, the CDC said, “The recipes associated with the diet and several variations that are available online show that it lacks the essential micronutrients such as vitamin D, iodine and calcium.”
Both the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have issued a clear warning regarding the use of homemade formula milk. The medical bodies said that relying on homemade formula milk can thus result in major deficiencies in nutrients and vitamins.
These three cases highlight the grave consequences of feeding infants with homemade formula milk. Parents should be cautioned about the dangers of substituting breast milk or commercial formula milk.
Not only can it lead to hypocalcemic cardiorespiratory failure, hypovitaminosis D and other diseases which can also get fatal.
As a precautionary measure, always consult your child’s paediatrician before introducing any homemade food or formula milk. This is to ensure that all your child’s nutritional needs are met.
Source: CDC
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