In terms of lactose load, how do preterm formulas compare to standard term formulas?

• A. Premature formulas have 40-50% lactose, standard formulas have 100% lactose
• B. Premature formulas have 100% lactose, standard formulas have 40-50% lactose
• C. Premature formulas have 0% lactose, standard formulas have 100% lactose
• D. Premature formulas have 60-70% lactose, standard formulas have 100% lactose

Answer: (A)

Lactose load refers to how much lactose the gut must digest and absorb. Preterm infants often have immature lactase activity and a gut that's more sensitive to carbohydrate load, so formulas for preterm babies are designed with less lactose to reduce gut stress and osmotic burden. Therefore, preterm formulas provide about 40-50% of the lactose found in standard term formulas, while standard term formulas use roughly 100% lactose. This lower lactose content helps improve tolerance in the developing gut while still delivering energy through other carbohydrate sources as needed.