SCIENCE INSPIRED BY NATURE
SMA® Anti-Reflux
Food for Special Medical Purposes
A nutritionally complete formula, suitable from birth until 1 year of age. For the dietary management of reflux and regurgitation.
This product should be used under medical supervision.
Product description


REDUCES FREQUENCY OF REGURGITATION1
Starch-thickened formulas have been shown to significantly reduce the number of daily regurgitation episodes†1

THICKENED FORMULA
NICE guidelines recommend trial of a thickened formula before medication*2, in formula-fed infants with GOR.

SPECIALLY TAILORED
Unique combination of easily digestible starch and 100% whey, partially hydrolysed protein, to help manage reflux and regurgitation1,3.
Gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) is a completely normal physiological process that affects approximately 40% of infants and usually resolves before they are 1 year old. 2
SMA® Anti-reflux formula offers a nutritional option in the management of reflux before moving on to medical intervention as recommended by the NICE guidelines2 see below:
- Offer parental reassurance, review feeding history, suggest smaller more frequent feeds (while maintaining appropriate daily milk volume intakes)
- Trial of a thickened formula
- If the above stepped-care approach does not work, stop the thickened formula and offer alginate therapy for a trial period of 1–2 weeks
Resources
For practical support on managing infant regurgitation and for some useful tools and articles
Find out moreFor information on suitability for use in Halal diets please contact the Careline on 0800 081 81 80 (UK) or 1800 931 832 (Ireland).
Availability:
PIP code (UK only): 286-7588
Supplier code (Ireland): 12328880
Data card
Formats

800 g powder
PIP code (UK only): 286-7588
Supplier code (Ireland): 12328880
Comparison charts
SMA® Anti-Reflux contains easily digestible starch and 100% whey, partially hydrolysed protein.
Anti-Reflux Formulae | SMA® Anti-Reflux1 | Aptamil Anti-Reflux2 | Cow & Gate Anti-Reflux2 | Hipp Anti-Reflux3 | Enfamil A R ('Anti-Reflux')4 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whey:casein | 100:0 | 40:60 | 40:60 | 60:40 | NS |
Type of protein | Partially hydrolysed | Intact | Intact | Intact | Intact |
Protein content (g/100 ml) | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.25 | 1.72 |
Type of thickener | Potato starch | Carob bean gum | Carob bean gum | Carob bean gum | Rice starch |
Vegetarian | No | No | No | No | No |
For information on suitability for use in Halal diets please contact the Careline on 0800 081 81 80 (UK) or 1800 931 832 (Ireland).
NS: Not stated
Preparation
Please read these instructions carefully, as they are different to other baby formulae. |
Information for you to give to parents
How to open and prepare your baby’s feed
Whilst this product is made under strict hygienic conditions, it is not sterile. Failure to follow instructions on preparation and storage may make your baby ill.

Pull the safety seal and open the lid. The scoop is provided under the lid. Lift the tab, pull on the foil seal, carefully and safely remove the seal and dispose of it.

Wash hands well. Wash and sterilise all utensils according to manufacturers' instructions.

Boil 1 litre of tap water. Allow to cool for no more than 30 minutes. Measure the required amount of water (see feeding guide) into a sterilised bottle, carefully – the water is hot. Do not use artificially softened or repeatedly boiled water.

Place the sterilised teat and cap on the bottle. Cool bottle under cold running water or in a bowl or jug of cold water until lukewarm, do not immerse the teat.

Using only the scoop provided, add the correct number of scoops of powder (see feeding guide), levelling off each scoop with the back of a clean, dry knife. Store the scoop in suspension inside the can and replace lid.

Shake bottle well until powder has fully dissolved. Test temperature by shaking a few drops onto the inside of your wrist – milk should be lukewarm.
SMA® Anti-Reflux is a thicker formula that may require the use of a fast flow teat.
Feeding guide
Feeding guide – powdered milk 800 g
Feeding guide birth – 12 months |
||||||
Approx. age of baby |
Approx. weight of baby |
Preparation for single feeds |
Feeds in 24 hours |
|||
Cooled, freshly boiled water |
||||||
kg |
lb |
Level scoops |
ml |
fl. oz. (approx.) |
||
Birth – 2 weeks |
3.4 |
7½ |
3 |
90 |
3 |
6 |
2 – 4 weeks |
3.7 |
8 |
4 |
120 |
4 |
6 |
4 – 8 weeks |
4.2 |
9¼ |
4 |
120 |
4 |
6 |
2 months |
5.3 |
11¾ |
5 |
150 |
5 |
5 |
3 months |
6.1 |
13½ |
6 |
180 |
6 |
5 |
4 months |
6.7 |
14¾ |
6 |
180 |
6 |
5 |
6 months |
7.6 |
16¾ |
8 |
240 |
8 |
4 |
7 – 12 months |
- |
- |
7 |
210 |
7 |
3 |
This table is a guide only; a baby may need more or less than the volumes stated. Caregivers should consult their healthcare professionals if more advice is needed. Remember, a baby should be fed on demand. Mix 1 scoop of powder to 30 ml (approx. 1 fl. oz.) of water.
Approx. 186 scoops per can. 1 scoop = 4.3 g.
Important feeding information
Information for you to give to parents
SMA® Anti-Reflux powder
|
Do not add extra powder or water to make feeds stronger or weaker and do not press powder into scoop. Using too much or too little powder can make your baby ill. |
|
We recommend preparing each feed in individual bottles when required. |
|
For hygienic reasons, discard unfinished feed in the bottle as soon as possible. |
|
For older babies, made-up formulae can be added to food but not heated. |
|
For enteral use only. |
|
Do not use with other feed thickeners or antacids. |
|
Do not alter or add to formulae unless medically directed. |
|
Do not warm feeds in a microwave as it will cause milk to thicken, and hot spots may occur and cause scalding. |
|
Remember, cows’ milk should not be used as a drink during the first year. |
-
Indrio F, et al. Effect of a Partially Hydrolysed Whey Infant Formula Supplemented with Starch and Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 on Regurgitation and Gastric Motility. Nutrients 2017, 9, 1181.ecertification.pdf (accessed March 2019).
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NICE (2015). Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease in children and young people. Available at https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng1. Accessed: January 2020.
-
SMA® Anti-Reflux datacard (2020). Available at www.smahcp.ie
-
Fonkalsrud EW. Curr Probl Surg 1996:33(1):1-70.
-
Billeaud C et al. Eur J Clin Nutr 1990;44:577-583.
-
NHS. Types of formula milk (2019). Available at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/types-of-infant-formula/ Accessed January 2020.
†p<0.0001, compared to a standard formula
*Alginate therapy
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IMPORTANT NOTICE:
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended that pregnant women and new mothers be informed on the benefits and superiority of breastfeeding – in particular the fact that it provides the best nutrition and protection from illness for babies. Mothers should be given guidance on the preparation for, and maintenance of, lactation, with special emphasis on the importance of a well-balanced diet both during pregnancy and after delivery. Unnecessary introduction of partial bottle-feeding or other foods and drinks should be discouraged since it will have a negative effect on breastfeeding. Similarly, mothers should be warned of the difficulty of reversing a decision not to breastfeed. Before advising a mother to use an infant formula, she should be advised of the social and financial implications of her decision: for example, if a baby is exclusively bottle-fed, more than one can (400 g) per week will be needed, so the family circumstances and costs should be kept in mind. Mothers should be reminded that breast milk is not only the best, but also the most economical food for babies. If a decision to use a formula is taken, it is important to give instruction on correct preparation methods, emphasising that unboiled water, unsterilised bottles or incorrect dilution can all lead to illness. This product must be used under medical supervision. SMA® Anti-Reflux is a special formula intended for the dietary management of bottle-fed babies when significant reflux (regurgitation) is a problem. It is suitable as the sole source of nutrition up to 6 months of age, and in conjunction with solid food up to 12 months of age. If the baby’s reflux does not improve within 2 weeks of starting SMA® Anti-Reflux, or if the baby fails to thrive, the family doctor should be consulted.