Neocate risks for the health of children who are fed this product have become increasingly apparent over the past few years. Most of these are related to bone development and skeletal health, as relying on a diet that exclusively consists of Neocate appears to result in serious nutritional deficiencies.

These, in turn, lead to serious long-term consequences to bone health. In addition, there have been a few cases in which bone injuries caused by Neocate dangers have been mistaken for injuries caused by abuse and/or assault, creating legal problems for parents and caretakers. Here are answers to some of the serious questions about the risks associated with Neocate.

What is Neocate?

Neocate is an amino acid-based or elemental formula, indicated for infants and children whose bodies cannot digest milk or soy proteins or suffer from multiple food allergies. Other conditions for which elemental formulas may be prescribed include eosinophilic esophagitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and short bowel syndrome.

Neocate and similar products are made from the most basic amino acids, the “building blocks” of life in their simplest forms, and thus are designed to meet the protein requirements for normal growth and development.

This hypoallergenic alternative to traditional formulas is advertised as having all of the nutrients necessary for infants. In fact, Neocate’s manufacturer, Nutricia, has marketed the product as “nutritionally complete for infants 0–12 months,” and supports “normal growth and development.”

Unfortunately, Neocate products have been linked to serious health issues in children.

What Are Specific Neocate Dangers?

Children who have been given Neocate products have been reported to suffer from easily broken bones, rickets, skeletal deformities, and stunted growth, long-term bone damage and low levels of phosphate in the blood (a condition known as hypophosphatemia). A lack of phosphate in the blood has been associated with malabsorption of Vitamin D, which is important for healthy bone development.

What Role Does Phosphorus Play?

Healthy bone development is normally associated with calcium. While this is true, research published in 2002 and 2013 found that calcium and phosphorus are interdependent when it comes to the healthy development and maintenance of bone. It turns out that over 50 percent of the makeup of bone consists of phosphorus.

Low phosphate levels can lead to bone disorders, cause bone pain, or broken bones, or even stunt a child’s growth.

What are Side Effects of Neocate?

A number of side effects have been linked with the use of Neocate baby formula, including:

• Broken bones
• Rickets
• Skeletal deformities
• Stunted growth
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Hypophosphatemia (low blood phosphate levels)
• Long-term skeletal damage

Can These Nutritional Deficits Be Remedied?

A study involving over 50 children who were fed Neocate was carried out jointly by Yale University and the Mayo Clinic in 2017, and was published in the journal Bone. It was discovered that nearly all of them (94 percent) suffered from rickets and brittle or soft bones due to hypophosphatemia. However, when subjects were given phosphate supplements or switched to a different formula, conditions resulting from these Neocate dangers improved in most cases.

What Neocate Products Are Affected?

Nutricia, the company that manufactures and markets Neocate, produces six different formulas:

• Infant DHA/ARA
• Junior
• Junior With Probiotics
• Nutra
• Splash
• Syneo Infant

My Child Was Affected. What Can I Do?

Nutricia’s advertising has long claimed the Neocate line to be “nutritionally complete.” Evidence indicates that the company was aware of Neocate dangers as early as 2015 but may not have issued a proper warning. Nonetheless, Nutricia conducted its own studies, then changed its formulas to address the deficiencies in 2018.

If your child was affected by these or other complications after using Neocate products, a Neocate lawyer can help in determining if you have grounds for legal action against Nutricia. Recognizing that there may be a connection between your child’s health problems and their use of Neocate is the most important first step, as many parents may not know about this risk and are therefore left unable to address the problem.

Of course, filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by Neocate problems, but it can at least help to alleviate the financial burden incurred by medical expenses, lost wages, and more. Filing a lawsuit can be daunting, especially on top of dealing with your child’s suffering, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for you by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.