REVIEW ER 'S CONCLUSIONS There is no evidence to support feeding with a hydrolysed formula for the prevention of allergy in preference to exclusive breast feeding .
In high risk infants who are unable to be completely breast fed , there is evidence that prolonged feeding with a hydrolysed compared to a cow 's milk formula reduces infant and childhood allergy and infant CMA .
BACKGROUND Allergies and food reactions are common and may be associated with foods including adapted cow 's milk formulas .
Formulas containing hydrolysed proteins have been used to treat infants with allergy or food intolerance , and have been advocated for prevention of allergy and food intolerance in infants .
OBJECTIVES To determine whether use of hydrolysed formulas for infant feeding prevents allergy and food intolerance .
If hydrolysed formulas are effective , to determine what type of hydrolysed formula is most effective including extensively and partially hydrolysed formulas .
To determine which infants benefit including infants at low or high risk of allergy and infants receiving early , short term or prolonged formula feeding .
Multicentre trial on feeding low birthweight infants: effects of diet on early growth.
A large multicentre study on the short and long term clinical and developmental outcome of infants r and omised to different diets is being undertaken . This report represents an interim analysis of the early postnatal growth performance of an unselected population of 194 preterm infants ( gestation , mean ( SD ) 31 . 0 ( 2 . 9 ) weeks ; birthweight , mean ( SD ) 1364 ( 294 ) g ) , both ill and well , examined in two ( of four ) parallel trials . One trial compared banked breast milk with a new preterm formula ( primary trial ) ; the other compared these diets as supplements to maternal milk ( supplement trial ) . A major dietary effect on the number of days taken to regain birthweight and subsequent gains in weight , length , and head circumference was observed in the primary trial . Infants fed banked breast milk  and weighing less than 1200 g at birth took a calculated additional three weeks to reach 2000 g compared with those fed on the preterm formula . A significant influence of diet on body proportions was seen in the relation between body weight , head circumference , and length . Similar though smaller differences in growth patterns were seen in the supplement trial . By the time they reach 2000 g , infants of birthweights 1200 to 1849 g fed on banked breast milk and infants below 1200 g fed on either banked breast milk or maternal milk supplemented ( as necessary ) with banked breast milk , fulfilled stringent criteria for failure to thrive ( weight less than 2 SD below the mean for age ) . Only infants fed the preterm formula as their sole diet had maintained their birth centile by discharge from hospital . The misleading nature of comparisons between extrauterine and intrauterine steady state weight gains is emphasised
REVIEW ER 'S CONCLUSIONS There is no evidence to support feeding with a hydrolysed formula for the prevention of allergy in preference to exclusive breast feeding .
In high risk infants who are unable to be completely breast fed , there is evidence that prolonged feeding with a hydrolysed compared to a cow 's milk formula reduces infant and childhood allergy and infant CMA .
BACKGROUND Allergies and food reactions are common and may be associated with foods including adapted cow 's milk formulas .
Formulas containing hydrolysed proteins have been used to treat infants with allergy or food intolerance , and have been advocated for prevention of allergy and food intolerance in infants .
OBJECTIVES To determine whether use of hydrolysed formulas for infant feeding prevents allergy and food intolerance .
If hydrolysed formulas are effective , to determine what type of hydrolysed formula is most effective including extensively and partially hydrolysed formulas .
To determine which infants benefit including infants at low or high risk of allergy and infants receiving early , short term or prolonged formula feeding .