Key Differences Table Between Similac Isomil and Enfamil Gentlease
| Features/Aspect | Similac Soy (Isomil) | Enfamil Gentlease |
|---|---|---|
| Ideal For | Babies with CMPA or severe lactose intolerance | Babies with less severe sensitivities or mild lactose intolerance |
| Type | Soy-based formula | Milk-based formula with partially hydrolyzed proteins |
| Primary Protein Source | Soy protein isolate | Partially hydrolyzed nonfat milk and whey protein |
| Carbohydrate Source | Corn syrup solids | Corn syrup solids |
| Fats and Oils | High oleic safflower, soy, coconut oil | Palm olein, coconut, soy, high oleic sunflower oil |
| Nutritionally Complete | Yes, with iron, DHA, ARA, vitamins, minerals | Yes, enriched with DHA, choline, vitamin D |
| Ease of Digestion | Suitable for lactose intolerant babies | Designed for fussiness, gas, mild spit-up |
| Prebiotics | Short-Chain Fructooligosaccharides (scFOS) | None |
| Specific Benefits | Lactose-free, vegetarian-friendly | Eases discomfort within 24 hours, gentle proteins |
This article will compare two infant formulas for sensitive babies: Similac Soy and Enfamil Gentlease.
We will analyze their nutritional composition and ingredients to help you make the best decision for your baby.
Let’s get after it!
***Important: Soy Formulas are not recommended for infants younger than six months of age due to estrogen content, and should not be used to treat CMPA until a pediatrician gives the OK.
*Related read: Similac Soy vs Nutramigen
Our Short Answer
Similac Soy and Enfamil Gentlease are two formulas designed for two different types of needs.
Here’s our short answer.
Choose Similac Isomil if your baby is at least 6 months old, and:
- A pediatrician has given the OK to soy-based formulas and has been diagnosed with CMPA
- Has a severe lactose intolerance
For other cases of less severe sensitivities, Enfamil Gentlease is a better choice, simply because it has cow’s milk protein, as it has better bioavailability than soy.
Having said all this, below in the article you have alternatives that we recommend you to study before making a decision.
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Overview of the Two Formulas
Similac Isomil is a soy-based, vegetarian formula suitable for lactose intolerance, with iron, DHA, ARA, and essential nutrients.
Enfamil Gentlease, designed for fussiness and gas, offers partially hydrolyzed proteins and reduced lactose content, with key nutrients for development, easing discomfort within 24 hours.
Similac Isomil
Similac Isomil is a soy-based infant formula, and it is often chosen for babies who cannot tolerate cow’s milk protein. Here are the most important points to consider about Similac Isomil:
- Soy Protein: Isomil uses a soy protein isolate, making it a suitable option for infants with lactose intolerance, galactosemia, or for families preferring a vegetarian formula.
- Iron-fortified: This formula is fortified with iron, which is essential for healthy brain and body development.
- DHA and ARA: Isomil includes DHA and ARA, nutrients found in breast milk that play a key role in the development of the brain and eyes.
- Growth Nutrients: It contains a blend of vitamins and minerals that support growth and immune system health.
Enfamil Gentlease
Enfamil Gentlease is designed for babies who experience fussiness, gas, or mild spit-up, which can often be signs of lactose sensitivity. Key features of Enfamil Gentlease include:
- Gentle Protein: The formula provides partially hydrolyzed nonfat milk and whey protein, which are broken down into smaller pieces to be easier on a baby’s delicate digestive system. *Learn more: Partially vs Extensively Hydrolyzed Formulas
- Reduced Lactose: Gentlease contains 25% lactose compared to a full-lactose, milk-based formula, potentially offering greater comfort for sensitive tummies.
- Essential Nutrients: It is enriched with DHA, choline, and vitamin D, which are crucial for baby’s development.
- Comfort Proteins: Designed to ease fussiness and gas within 24 hours of use, leading to a more content and restful baby.
Nutritional Composition
Similac Isomil offers soy protein isolate, ideal for babies with CMPA or galactosemia, while Enfamil Gentlease uses partially hydrolyzed milk proteins, better absorbed for those without CMPA.
Both formulas use corn syrup solids for carbohydrates, with Isomil better for severe lactose intolerances.
Isomil’s fat blend, excluding palm olein, is advantageous for calcium absorption compared to Gentlease.
Protein Content
Protein is the building block of growth during infancy and is vital for proper physical development.
- Similac Isomil: This soy-based formula derives its protein solely from plant sources. The primary protein content in Isomil comes from soy protein isolate, which is processed to remove most fats and carbohydrates, leaving behind a high-quality plant protein.
- Enfamil Gentlease: The protein source in Gentlease is a blend of partially hydrolyzed nonfat milk and whey protein concentrate. The hydrolysis process breaks down the proteins into smaller pieces, making it easier for a baby’s digestive system to handle, especially if they are sensitive to larger milk proteins. This can be particularly helpful for infants showing fussiness due to gas or mild lactose sensitivity.
Isomil’s soy protein is suitable for babies with diagnosed CMPA (cow’s milk protein) and galactosemia.
However, Gentlease’s partially hydrolyzed formula is a better option for babies without diagnosed CMPA, because cow’s protein has better bioavailability than soy’s protein, which means it’s better absorbed and used by the body.
Carbohydrate Content
Carbohydrates serve as the primary energy source for infants, playing a role in supporting the rapid growth and development they experience during the first year of life.
- Similac Isomil: In Isomil, carbohydrates come from corn syrup solids, which offer a lactose-free energy source.
- Enfamil Gentlease: The carbohydrate source in Gentlease is primarily from corn syrup solids as well, providing energy for infants while reducing the lactose content to ease digestion for babies with sensitivities.
Isomil is more suited for babies with severe lactose intolerances, and Gentlease is designed for babies with sensitivities or mild intolerances. Both formulas use corn syrup solids, which is the most common alternative to lactose in US-based formulas. It’s not the ideal alternative for its high sugar content, but it’s easy to digest.
*Learn more: Corn Syrup
Fats and Oils
Fats are essential for infant nutrition as they contribute to brain development, energy supply, and absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.
- Similac Isomil: The fat blend in Isomil includes high oleic safflower, soy, and coconut oil. This combination ensures a profile of both saturated and unsaturated fats similar to what is found in breast milk, contributing to cognitive and visual development with fatty acids like DHA and ARA.
- Enfamil Gentlease: Enfamil Gentlease also contains vegetable oils, including palm olein, coconut, soy, and high oleic sunflower oil. This mixture is designed to mimic the fat composition in breast milk, providing essential fatty acids that are integral to your baby’s development while also being mindful of ease of digestion.
On paper, Isomil has a better fat profile than Enfamil, simply for not adding palm olein. This ingredient has been linked to poor calcium absorption if consumed regularly. That’s why some formulas with non-organic palm oil or olein have higher calcium content.
Prebiotics and Probiotics
The inclusion of probiotics and prebiotics in infant formulas is becoming increasingly common due to their known benefits for gut health and the immune system. While many formulas are enhanced with these beneficial components, not all have them.
Similac Isomil includes prebiotic dietary fiber in the form of short-chain fructooligosaccharides (scFOS). Fructooligosaccharides are plant-based fibers that can nourish and promote the growth of good bacteria in the digestive system, similar to the way these fibers in breast milk support a healthy gut flora in breastfed infants.
On the other hand, Enfamil Gentlease does not include prebiotics or probiotics in its formulation. While this formula is designed to be gentle on the digestive system, it lacks this additional feature that might benefit overall gastrointestinal health.
Best Places to Buy Similac Isomil and Enfamil Gentlease
Isomil
Gentlease
What are the Best Alternatives to Similac Soy and Enfamil Gentlease?
Parental concerns such as cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA) or lactose sensitivity are common, and thankfully numerous alternatives exist.
For babies with CMPA, some of the most common alternatives include:
- Enfamil Soy: A soy-based formula that serves as a cow’s milk alternative for babies with CMPA or for those on a vegetarian diet. *Read: Enfamil Soy vs Similac Soy
- Similac Alimentum: A hypoallergenic formula designed to reduce the risk of allergic reactions in babies with CMPA. *Read: Similac Soy vs Alimentum
- Enfamil Nutramigen: Another hypoallergenic formula catering to babies with CMPA, boasting a claim of promoting digestive health and potentially reducing future allergy issues.
If your baby is lactose sensitive,our favorite alternatives are:
- Hipp Comfort: Designed to be easy on the digestive system for babies with minor lactose sensitivities, providing a blend of prebiotics and probiotics, with the added benefit of being organic.
- Hipp HA: This is a hypoallergenic formula with proteins that are broken down into small fragments to reduce the risk of allergic reactions and it also includes probiotics. *Read: Hipp HA vs Hipp Comfort
- Hipp Anti-Reflux: For babies who experience reflux and regurgitation, this organic formula contains thickening agents that may help to reduce these symptoms, in addition to beneficial prebiotics and probiotics. *Read: Hipp Anti-Reflux vs Comfort
Last Words
We hope this comparison between Similac Soy and Enfamil Gentlease has helped you make an informed decision for your baby.
If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us through our homepage or comment below.
Happy feeding!
We’re Maria and Alberto, a married couple and educators who are nutrition enthusiasts. Even before we had kids, we were already crazy about nutrition.
We’d read scientific articles, watch videos from nutritionists, and spend hours listening to nutrition podcasts.
Today, we continue doing this, but in a different way, as we’ve learned to sift through the noise and trends. Nutrition, like any other field of knowledge, the more you read and learn, the more you develop a comprehensive understanding of reality, and that’s what has happened to us.
Before having our first child, we focused on learning everything we could about child nutrition, using the same techniques we had already employed, backed by our extensive knowledge in nutrition.
Our mission is to help other parents with their children’s nutrition, to help them become the best versions of themselves.
If we are what we eat and drink, which is absolutely true, let’s do it right!
