Migdal HaEmeq, Israel—Calcified Tissue International just published a study from Meir Medical Center in Israel (sponsored by Enzymotec, with global headquarters, here) that indicates a branded ingredient may support bone strength in infants.

The team gave commercially available infant formula to 58 babies for three months; formulas had different percentages of beta-palmitate (BP, high BP was 43%, low BP was 14%). BP was hypothesized to affect bone speed of sound (SOS), which analyzes bone strength. A group of 25 infants were breast fed.

At 12 weeks after birth, the average bone SOS was much higher for the high BP group than for the low BP group. It was comparable to that of the breast-fed babies.

The ingredient studied in the high BP formula was InFat from Advanced Lipids, a joint venture between AAK and Enzymotec.

Published in WholeFoods Magazine, February 2012 (online 12/17/12)