Which statement about lactose content of preterm formulas is true?

Which statement about lactose content of preterm formulas is true?

• A. They contain 40-50% lactose
• B. They are lactose-free
• C. They contain 100% lactose
• D. They contain no more than 10% lactose

Answer: (A)

In preterm formulas, lactose acts as the main carbohydrate source, but its amount is balanced with other carbohydrates to meet energy needs while managing osmolality and digestion. The typical approach is to have lactose comprise roughly 40-50% of the carbohydrate content. The rest of the carbohydrate comes from other sources like glucose polymers to achieve the right energy density and osmolarity for fragile preterm infants. That’s why this statement is the true one: lactose is present, but not exclusively and not at the extremes of 0% or 100%. Lactose-free formulas exist for specific conditions, and formulas aren’t designed to be composed entirely of lactose, nor to keep lactose to a very low level like 10% or less, because that would alter energy delivery and calcium absorption and require different carbohydrate blends that aren’t standard for routine preterm nutrition.

In preterm formulas, lactose acts as the main carbohydrate source, but its amount is balanced with other carbohydrates to meet energy needs while managing osmolality and digestion. The typical approach is to have lactose comprise roughly 40-50% of the carbohydrate content. The rest of the carbohydrate comes from other sources like glucose polymers to achieve the right energy density and osmolarity for fragile preterm infants. That’s why this statement is the true one: lactose is present, but not exclusively and not at the extremes of 0% or 100%.

Lactose-free formulas exist for specific conditions, and formulas aren’t designed to be composed entirely of lactose, nor to keep lactose to a very low level like 10% or less, because that would alter energy delivery and calcium absorption and require different carbohydrate blends that aren’t standard for routine preterm nutrition.