A Letter to Doctors about Homemade Goat Milk Formula

Hello Doctor,

My name is Joe Stout and I developed the Homemade Goat Milk Formula you’re currently evaluating. Thank you for taking the time to research and evaluate the nutritional inputs your patients (and their caregivers) are utilizing. I earned a bachelors of science in Food Science and Human Nutrition from Washington State University as well as a Masters of Science in Clinical Human Nutrition from the University of Bridgeport. (diplomas available on request)

I developed this formula in 2012 for my own daughter who suffered greatly from both cow milk allergy (CMA) and soy milk allergy (SMA). As you well know, CMA is the most common allergy in children under 3 years old, ¹ is increasing in prevalence, ²and is primarily due to the presence of the cow-specific structures of the allergen alphaS1 casein protein. ³ Soy is also highly allergenic ⁴, contains hormone / endocrine disrupting phytoestrogens ⁵, and is usually sourced as a genetically modified ingredient (GMO). These two protein sources account for the vast majority of infant formulas. Because they are both highly allergenic, often parents of sensitive children are left with no other options for feeding when breast milk is not available.

Enter goat milk.

Goat milk does not contain the highly allergenic structures in alpha S1 casein that cow milk does but instead contains alpha S2 casein structures which do not carry the allergenic reaction potential for most children. ⁶ Goat milk protein is also easy to digest ⁷ This presents an ideal protein base for a homemade goat milk formula.

What about Hypernatremia, Hyponatremia, Azotemia, Metabolic Acidosis, Folic acid deficiency, etc.?

If you only read one line in this whole letter, let it be this one.

This formula does not advocate feeding undiluted goat milk to infants.

Plain whole goat milk, like cow milk, by itself, is a poor nutritional choice for infants. The levels of protein and sodium found in naturally occurring goat milk are higher than that of breast milk and should be diluted in potency so as to not overwork the developing renal (kidney) organs. Once the milk level is diluted, metabolic acidosis, azotemia, and hypernatremia are no longer risks.

However, the nutritional levels of both carbohydrates and fats need to be replaced to mimic the high carb and fat content of breast milk.

This formula (i.e. formula of ingredients) adds both the fat and carbohydrates back into the final formula for baby.

For fat content, we recommend adding a high-quality extra virgin olive oil (good source of monounsaturated fatty acids), grass-fed goat milk ghee (good source of saturated fat), and a small amount of grapeseed oil which delivers adequate levels of the essential polyunsaturated fat, linoleic acid. Having the ability to craft this ideal fatty acid profile is both a vital and enormous advantage of making this formula at home. If purchased as a ready to mix powder, the fatty acids contained in the formula would be primarily inflammatory, genetically modified polyunsaturated (corn oil, canola oil, soybean oil, safflower oil, etc) and would have been oxidized via drying with low nutrient, GMO maltodextrin.

Once the fats have been added to the formula to mimic breast milk, the carbohydrate content also needs to be increased. Many commercially available formulas utilize corn syrup, corn syrup solids, maltodextrin, or plain sugar to boost carbohydrates. The best carbohydrate for growing tummies is lactose. It’s presence in the GI tract stimulates the production of Lactobacillus acidophilus microflora. ⁸ This formula utilizes goat milk based lactose however turbinado sugar, brown rice syrup, coconut sugar, and organic maple syrup can also be used if the lactose is not well tolerated. Once the fat and carbohydrates have been replaced, hyponatremia is no longer at risk.

Goat milk is known to be low in Vitamin B12 as well as folate. It is also low in iron and Vitamin D. We advise those who utilize our recipe to include an infant multivitamin that includes these essential nutrients therefore eliminating the possibility of deficiencies or anemia.

Nutritional Levels compared with Commercial Formula

The nutritional regulatory standard for infant formula comes from 21CFR107.100. which includes nutrient minimums and maximum set by congress in the 1980 Infant Formula Act. I have based this formula on those minimums and maximums and have compiled a Nutrient Database that shows the levels found in the goat milk formula recipe as compared to this standard. This is a helpful document that shows the source of the nutrient, the level, and how it compares to both the minimums and maximums allowed by law. This formula recipe, if properly prepared, will deliver all required nutrients as required by law similar to any commercially processed formula.

Using Raw Milk

I do not recommend using raw milk due to the high likelihood of contamination and the dangers of pathogens such as Campylobacter, E.Coli, Salmonella, and Listeria. Using fresh, pasteurized milk is fine but raw milk unless carefully handled, due to its high water activity, can easily become contaminated and the risk to infant health is high.

Formula Recipes Offer Key Advantages

While recommending a formula recipe is certainly not conventional, such a resource has several key advantages I lay this out in another article titled Top 7 reasons for Making your Infant Formula at Home.⁹ In this article, I make the case a homemade Goat Milk Formula recipe is better than a commercial prepared formula due to the improved fat content, optimized fatty acid profile, ideal protein source, nutrient flexibility for differing growth patterns, improved taste, and quality assurance. The bottom line is that the formula I advocate for is neither nutritionally deficient or medically dangerous and in fact may be the exact answer your patients and their caregivers are seeking.

Holistic Care Begins with Proper Nutrition

If you still have concerns over the safety or efficacy of this formula recipe. I would love to speak personally with you. I have seen it work wonders in hundreds of infants and believe in its efficacy, safety, and nutritional appropriateness. I would love the opportunity to answer any questions that may have arisen and if you would like to know more regarding this formula recipe, I can be reached at contact information below.

Thank you again for taking the time to evaluate the bio-dynamic and unique nutritional needs of your patients.

Sincerely,

Joe Stout, M.S.

joe@mtcapra.com

1-877-MTCAPRA (ext 102)

1. Cow milk protein allergy and other common food allergies and intolerances. Paediatr Int Child Health. Manuyakorn W, Tanpowpong P. 2018 Jul 17:1-9. – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30014782 ↩︎
2. Prevalence of cow’s milk protein allergy among children in a university community hospital. Mehaudy R, Parisi C, Petriz N, Eymann A, Jauregui M, Orsi M. Arch Argent Pediatr. 2018 Jun 1;116(3):219-223. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30014782 ↩︎
3. Analysis of casein alpha S1 & S2 proteins from different mammalian species. Tariq Ahmad Masoodi and Gowhar Shafi. Bioinformation. 2010; 4(9): 430–435. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2951635/ ↩︎
4. Milk and Soy Allergy Jacob D. Kattan, MD, Renata R. Cocco, MD, and Kirsi M. Järvinen, MD, PhD, Pediatr Clin North Am. 2011 Apr; 58(2): 407–426. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3070118/ ↩︎
5. The potential health effects of dietary phytoestrogens. Ivonne M C M Rietjens, Jochem Louisse, Karsten Beekmann, Br J Pharmacol. 2017 Jun; 174(11): 1263–1280. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5429336/ ↩︎
6. Analysis of casein alpha S1 & S2 proteins from different mammalian species. Tariq Ahmad Masoodi and Gowhar Shafi. Bioinformation. 2010; 4(9): 430–435. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2951635/ ↩︎
7. Gastric digestion of cow and goat milk: Impact of infant and young child in vitro digestion conditions. Hodgkinson AJ, Wallace OAM, Boggs I, Broadhurst M, Prosser CG. Food Chem. 2018 Apr 15;245:275-281 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29287371 ↩︎
8. Lactose in Human Breast Milk an Inducer of Innate Immunity with Implications for a Role in Intestinal Homeostasis. Andreas Cederlund, and others. PLoS One. 2013; 8(1): e53876., ¶https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3542196/ ↩︎
9. Top 7 reasons for Making your Infant Formula at Home. Joe Stout, July 2017http://goatmilkformula.mtcapra.com/2017/07/26/top-7-reasons-why-you-should-make-your-goat-milk-infant-baby-formula-recipe-at-home/ ↩︎