Higher energy efficiency could help explain why African- American girls grow faster than peers in other ethnic groups. This metabolic efficiency can backfire in adulthood by contributing to obesity and increased health risk. But the new study adds further evidence that establishing healthy life styles in childhood can have lasting beneficial effects into adulthood. Among Prolina's appealing qualities is an unusually high concentration of cysteine, an amino acid that occurs naturally in human breast milk. In fact, Prolina has several times more cysteine than regular soybean varieties.
Humans have a higher ratio of cysteine in their breast milk than all other mammals.
Scientists have speculated that high cysteine levels promote brain and eye development because the body uses it to make taurine, a compound highly concentrated in these organs. Formula manufacturers have been looking for a way to more closely match mother's milk with a vegetable-based formula. Prolina may just be the formula for success. Breast feeding is preferable to formula for all infants, but sometimes this isn't possible, particularly if the infant has trouble digesting larger proteins found in breast milk. Soy formula can be an alternative.