Abbott Laboratories' Ross Products Division announced today the launch of Isomil Advance as the first and only soy infant formula in the United States to be supplemented with DHA and ARA, two fatty acids that are important for brain and visual development. These two fatty acids - DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and ARA (arachidonic acid) - are found in small amounts in breast milk. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has completed its review and Isomil Advance is expected to begin to be available in December. In the United States, 20-25 percent of all infants are fed soy formula sometime during their first year.

Isomil Advance provides all the benefits of the leading soy infant formula, Isomil, which has been clinically shown to provide more calcium absorption than the other leading brand. Isomil has been the first choice of doctors for common feeding problems such as fussiness, gas and spit-up for five years.

"Isomil Advance is made without palm or palm olein oils. Research has shown that formulas made with palm or palm olein oils may provide less calcium absorption than formulas made without those oils," said Russell J. Merritt, medical director of Pediatrics and Medical Nutritionals at Abbott's Ross Products Division.

Abbott's Ross Products Division now has the broadest line of infant formula products available that are supplemented with DHA and ARA. Isomil Advance is available for babies with feeding sensitivities. For term infants, Abbott's Ross Products offers Similac Advance With Iron, an infant formula that contains DHA and ARA, and has been clinically shown, like Similac With Iron, to support visual and brain development like that of the breastfed infant. The company also recently launched three preterm infant formulas, NeoSure Advance, Similac Special Care and Similac Natural Care, all supplemented with DHA and ARA.

Abbott's Ross Products has a long history of leadership in infant nutrition and a tradition of innovation. The company introduced Similac, one of the first commercially available infant formulas, and remains committed to conducting research to ensure that formula-fed infants receive the highest quality products to meet their nutritional needs.