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Nutricia Neocate, a commercial formula for infants and children with milk and soy allergies, is reported to have caused serious bone disorders.
The product was developed as an alternative to traditional formulas and advertised by the manufacturers as “hypoallergenic” as well as “nutritionally complete” for infants one year of age and younger.
The claim that Neocate “supports normal growth and development” is now under investigation, however, as infants and young children who have been fed the product have been suffering from a range of side effects and nutritional deficiencies that have resulted in abnormal skeletal development.
What is Nutricia Neocate?
Neocate is an “elemental,” or amino acid-based formula for infants with dietary restrictions. These products are created from individual amino acids, which are the basic building blocks of protein and arguably, of life itself. Because the amino acids in Neocate are in their most basic form, they are easily digested and absorbed.
While generally indicated for infants and children who are lactose intolerant or have an allergy to soy products, they can also be fed to children who suffer from allergy-induced acid reflux disease or short bowel syndrome. Neocate and similar products are also used when a child or infant is transitioning from intravenous feeding to ingesting liquid and solid foods.
Neocate and Bone Disorders
A Yale University study published in 2017 discovered that some children who were fed Nutricia Neocate suffered from a condition known as hypophosphatemia, or phosphate deficiency. In young children, this condition results in a number of skeletal issues that include soft or brittle, easily-broken bones and skeletal deformities.
The study found that infants and children who were fed with Neocate had difficulty absorbing phosphate, which plays an important role in healthy bone development.
It turns out that phosphorus plays a vital role in the way that calcium builds strong bones, according to a 2002 study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition. Phosphorus also makes up over half of bone composition.
While 94 percent of the children who were subjects in the Yale study were found to suffer from serious phosphate deficiencies, most of them showed marked improvement when given phosphate supplements or when switched to a different elemental formula.
Neocate-Related Deficiency Mistaken for Child Abuse
Recently, the father of a 10-year-old with cerebral palsy who had been fed with Nutricia Neocate was the target of an investigation by Child Protective Services when the boy was found to have numerous bone fractures. The case was resolved after his adult daughter viewed a television advertisement by a local lawyer seeking clients whose children had suffered from Neocate-related injuries. Subsequent medical tests on the boy revealed seriously low bone density, after which he was transitioned to a different product.
Is Anything Being Done?
In April 2018, the Jackson, Miss. Clarion Ledger, which published the original story on the aforementioned case, reported that Nutricia was modifying the product by adding a more highly-soluble form of phosphate to its ingredients.
Parents whose children suffered bone disorders because of Neocate may have a cause of action to bring a lawsuit against manufacturer Nutricia.
Join a Free Neocate Infant Formula Class Action Lawsuit Investigation
If you have a child that takes Neocate and has suffered from bone fractures or other Neocate side effects such as rickets, you may qualify to join this Neocate lawsuit investigation. Fill out the form on this page for a free case evaluation.
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