The best evidence lies with probiotics supplementation in mothers and infants in preventing development and reducing severity of AD .
Specifically , Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG was effective in long-term prevention of AD development .
γ-Linolenic acid reduced severity of AD .
Supplementation with prebiotics and black currant seed oil ( γ-linolenic acid and ω-3 combination ) was effective in reducing the development of AD .
Certain types of nutrient supplementation are beneficial in preventing AD development and reducing its severity .
OBJECTIVE To identify whether nutrient supplementation with probiotics , prebiotics , formula , or fatty acids prevents the development of  atopic dermatitis ( AD ) or reduces the severity of AD in newborns to children younger than 3 years .
Certain hydrolyzed formulas reduce the incidence of atopic dermatitis but not that of asthma: three-year results of the German Infant Nutritional Intervention Study.
BACKGROUND Recommendations for primary prevention of allergic diseases in high-risk children include feeding with hydrolyzed formulas if breast-feeding is insufficient . OBJECTIVE The primary objective of the German Infant Nutritional Intervention study was to investigate the allergy preventive effect of 3 hydrolyzed formulas compared with cow 's milk formula in the first 3 years of life in a r and omized , double-blind trial . METHODS Between 1995 and 1998 , 2252 newborns with atopic heredity were allocated to a group receiving cow 's milk formula , partially or extensively hydrolyzed whey formula , or extensively hydrolyzed casein formula as a milk substitute for the first 4 months if breast-feeding was insufficient . Main outcome parameters were allergic manifestations , atopic dermatitis ( AD ) , and asthma . RESULTS After 3 years , 396 of 2252 children ( 17.6 % ) had dropped out . Breast-fed infants without formula feeding during the intervention ( n = 889 ) were considered separately . A significant reduction of the incidence of AD was achieved with the extensively hydrolyzed casein formula in the intention-to-treat ( ITT ; n = 1363 ) and per protocol ( PP ; n = 904 ) analyses ( ITT : population odds ratio [ 95 % CI ] , 0.67 [ 0.45 - 0.99 ] ; PP : adjusted odds ratio [ OR(adj ) ] , 0.53 [ 0.32 - 0.88 ] ) , and with the partially hydrolyzed whey formula in the PP analysis ( ITT : population odds ratio , 0.76 [ 0.52 - 1.11 ] ; PP : OR(adj ) , 0.60 [ 0.37 - 0.97 ] ) . None of the formulas reduced the incidence of asthma . CONCLUSION The risk for AD , but not for asthma , can be reduced with certain cow 's milk hydrolyzates in high-risk infants when breast-feeding is insufficient . CLINICAL IMPLICATION S Early nutritional intervention in high-risk children has significant influence on the incidence of AD , but not of asthma
The best evidence lies with probiotics supplementation in mothers and infants in preventing development and reducing severity of AD .
Specifically , Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG was effective in long-term prevention of AD development .
γ-Linolenic acid reduced severity of AD .
Supplementation with prebiotics and black currant seed oil ( γ-linolenic acid and ω-3 combination ) was effective in reducing the development of AD .
Certain types of nutrient supplementation are beneficial in preventing AD development and reducing its severity .
OBJECTIVE To identify whether nutrient supplementation with probiotics , prebiotics , formula , or fatty acids prevents the development of  atopic dermatitis ( AD ) or reduces the severity of AD in newborns to children younger than 3 years .