At the start of the study, 90% of infants were receiving both breastfeeding and formula milk for some reason (known as mixed feeding), and the remaining 10% were receiving only formula milk, without breastfeeding. Due to functional gastrointestinal disorders, on a pediatrician's recommendation, all infants began to receive a specially designed formula for these digestive conditions.
Functional digestive disorders in infants are one of the main causes of distress for families during those first months of life. Specialist Mabel Carosella clarified: "Undoubtedly, exclusive breastfeeding is the ideal form of nutrition for that stage, and the first indication to alleviate these conditions is to correct the baby's position during feeding, avoid overfeeding, and ensure a proper latch so the baby doesn't swallow air, while prioritizing breastfeeding."
However, she acknowledged that in these cases, if it becomes necessary to supplement breastfeeding, the appropriate path is to use specific formulas, which are effective alternatives backed by robust scientific evidence. This study demonstrates that when exclusive breastfeeding is not sustainable, a tailored formula can rapidly and concretely alleviate these symptoms, with a direct benefit to the quality of life for the entire family.
Dr. Carosella, medical director of the Belgrano R Pediatric Group, noted: "The early improvement observed in the first week would be a particularly interesting data point, as it would suggest that the changes are not solely due to the natural maturation of the digestive system, which usually improves with the passage of months, but rather to a possible direct effect of the formula."
Furthermore, the 'real-world' nature of the study reinforces its value, as it reflects what happens in daily practice, with families navigating the postpartum period and doctors needing to provide solutions based on concrete tools in different regions of the country.
The study thus provides a key piece for rethinking how infants with digestive disorders and their families are supported. "Although these are often considered benign and transient processes, their impact on daily life can be very significant: babies who cry for hours, parents who sleep little, disrupted family routines, and a sense of frustration that builds when usual strategies are not enough to alleviate the discomfort," explained the pediatrician.
During a month, specialists and families evaluated the evolution of symptoms and the quality of life of the infants and their caregivers through validated and standardized questionnaires. The results were eloquent: in just one week, parents began to register significant improvements: less crying, more hours of continuous sleep, and a noticeable reduction in digestive discomfort.
By the 28th day, the symptoms that were frequent at the beginning had decreased to almost marginal levels. Specifically, constipation, which affected half of the infants, was reduced to 6%.
