The Impact of Early-life Organic Feeding on Infants' Health: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

This completed study compared early-life feeding with organic infant formula and organic complementary foods, conventional infant formula and conventional complementary foods, and breastfeeding with family-selected complementary foods. Infants were recruited in Chenzhou, Hunan, China, and followed through 8 months of age. The study examined physical growth, early development, gastrointestinal symptoms, stool characteristics, and gut microbiota. Measurements and questionnaires were collected at baseline and scheduled visits at 2, 4, 6, and 8 months of age. The aim was to assess whether organic feeding was associated with differences in infant health and gut microbiota compared with conventional feeding, with breastfeeding as a natural reference. Registration is being completed retrospectively after the study has finished.