Neocate and Nutramigen belong to the hypoallergenic group and are designed for treating protein allergies in infants. Neocate is expensive compared to nutramigen. Neocate is an amino acid-based while Nutramigen is protein hydrolysate based. Both formulas are used to treat against cow milk allergy. The two methods are generally the same nutritional value. Neocate works best for infants with very volatile stomach. Keep reading to find out how these two compare at price, taste, nutrients, and ingredients.
Neocate vs Nutramigen: Comparison Table
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Nutricia Neocate
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Enfamil Nutramigen
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Nutricia Neocate review
Pros
- Suitable for managing cow’s milk allergy.
- Babies take it more easily because it is amino acid-based, which are small molecules
and easily absorbed. - Can manage colic in children in less than 48 hrs.
- Provides full nutritional value for babies in their first year
- Has brain nourishing nutrients.
Cons
- It’s a bit expensive to buy
- May have nutritional deficiencies
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allergy, multiple food allergies, and other conditions requiring amino acid-based formulas.
It meets the changing nutritional needs of infants with a cow milk allergy.
It provides support through early stages of dietary management through infancy, during weaning, and through early years of childhood.
Enfamil Nutramigen Review
Pros
- It has a fast allergy management reaction as it breaks down cow milk rapidly, and the
immune system responds positively to its action. - After a year of its use, a more significant percentage of babies with cow’s milk allergy
become tolerant to cow’s milk. - Omega 3 and 6 essential fatty acids in nutramigen are good for brain development.
- Apart from treating cow milk allergy, the formula works well for infants with skin
conditions such as Eczema and those from families with a history of multiple allergies
to foods. - Most scientific proven extensively hydrolyzed formula in the market.
Cons
- Slightly unpleasant taste, especially when switching from other formulas to
Nutramigen. - Can lead to increased diarrhea which is mainly caused by LGG
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It can help to resolve colic symptoms exhibited by milk protein.
It contains hydrolyzed casein protein.
It also contains a small fat percentage, which helps in absorption. DHA and ARA fatty acids fortified essential for brain and eye development.
Nutricia Neocate vs Enfamil Nutramigen: Differences
Smell
Neocate has the characteristic smell of fatty acids while Nutramigen smells like cream of mushroom. That may cause vomiting in some children.
Effects on tummy
Neocate is an amino acid-based while Nutramigen is protein hydrolysate based.
Amino acids are light molecules, and infants can take them more quickly compared to protein hydrolysate
molecules, which are complex.
Therefore Neocate is generally gentle on the tummy and easily digested compared to Nutramigen for newborns.
Nutrients
Neocate has balanced nutrients majorly found in breast milk for the nourishment of the
infant. It contains amino acids, DHA, and ARA fatty acids, which are the primary nutrients for infant development.
The nutrients are balanced to ensure optimum nutritional value.
Nutramigen, on the other hand, has incorporated all essential nutrients that aid in the growth and development of infants.
It’s fortified with iron for the development of blood cells, has a range of vitamins such as A, D, E, K, B1, and B2. The formula also has linoleic acid that aids in absorption into the bloodstream, have proteins for growth, carbohydrates which is the major component, as well as equivalent water.
Ingredients
The main ingredients for Neocate include dried glucose syrup, refined vegetable oil, glycine L-Arginine, L-Aspartate among many other essential elements found in low concentration.
Nutramigen contains corn syrup solids, vegetable oils such as palm and coconut oil, crypthecodinium cohnii oil, Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG (LGG) which is probiotic, vitamins A, D3, B6, B12, and ascorbic acid.
The formula also incorporates thiamine hydrochloride, riboflavin, inositol, calcium citrate, calcium hydroxide, calcium phosphate for the strengthening of bones, magnesium oxide, zinc sulfate, manganese sulphone among other inorganic additives.
Price
Nutricia Neocate is more expensive than Enfamil Nutramigen.
Nutramigen or Neocate for reflux?
Reflux is a condition where the stomach content leaks backward through the esophagus and can cause irritation, heartburn, or other symptoms. Some infants who are allergic to cow’s milk may experience frequent reflux.
The use of hypoallergenic formula can manage the reflux. Neocate is good at stopping the food reflux.
On the other hand, Nutramigen does not stop food reflux in infants and may even accelerate the reflux process.
The reason being that Nutramigen is thinner compared to Neocate in
terms of composition and can quickly come out.
Conclusion
Neocate vs. Nutramigen: And the winner is…
Comparing the two formulas, it’s evident that they have significant differences but serve almost the same purpose.
Though Neocate has a higher market value compared to Nutramigen, it has the advantage of faster absorption due to the low-density amino acid molecules.
Enfamil Nutramigen has a few complex protein molecules that take more time to absorb. Therefore in terms of efficiency Nutricia Neocate is better.