Neocate baby formula has been linked to hypophosphatemia symptoms in children who rely on this formula for their nutritional needs.

Hypophosphatemia is the condition in which a patient does not have enough phosphate. This deficiency can cause a range of symptoms.

In some mild cases, a patient with hypophosphatemia can exhibit no symptoms. Some less severe symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, weakness, and confusion. In more serious cases, patients can experience muscle weakness, seizures, heart failure, respiratory failure, and coma.

Many parents may not realize that their children are exhibiting hypophosphatemia symptoms until the symptoms look fairly severe. In many cases, the mild symptoms can be misdiagnosed.

Phosphate is a combination of oxygen and the mineral phosphorus. Humans use phosphate to build and repair teeth and bones, produce energy, and maintain DNA. Phosphorous should be a part of a healthy diet and can be found in foods like beans, nuts, cereal, milk, meat, and eggs. After phosphorus is consumed, it is metabolized into phosphate.

People can develop a phosphate deficiency for a number of reasons. These reasons can include vitamin D deficiencies, kidney disease, thyroid disease, malnutrition, alcoholism, and treatment for diabetic ketoacidosis.

Recent research indicates that people may develop hypophosphatemia from using a number of products. Unfortunately, one such product may be Neocate, a common baby formula. This baby formula is used for babies who are allergic to cow milk and soy and is marketed as being an anti-allergenic formula. The product is considered to be “amino-acid based.”

Parents rely on a baby formula like Neocate to ensure that their babies get the vitamins and minerals they need. For many parents, baby formulas are often key in getting babies off to a healthy start in life. However, Neocate may not be as beneficial as it should be, according to research.

A recent study indicated that Neocate use was linked to hypophosphatemia symptoms. One such symptom is a range of bone problems related to hypophosphatemia. In the study, 51 children at 17 different institutions who had been fed only Neocate were found to have developed hypophosphatemia.

According to the study, the parents of the children did not know that their children were exhibiting hypophosphatemia symptoms until children developed severe symptoms including bone fractures or rickets. Rickets is a condition in which children’s bones weaken and soften as a result of a vitamin D deficiency.

When doctors first noticed the bone fractures and rickets in the children, they did not link them to hypophosphatemia — initially, the doctors thought these conditions were caused by another condition. However, all of the children who suffered the fractures and rickets reportedly improved after they were given phosphate supplements.

The study then linked the bone fractures, rickets, and hypophosphatemia symptoms with Neocate baby formula use, because when the children in question were switched to a different formula, they also improved rapidly.

Researchers recommended that children taking Neocate be monitored for hypophosphatemia symptoms, and their levels of phosphate should be monitored.