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 .
Long-term prevention of allergic diseases by using protein hydrolysate formula in at-risk infants.
This prospect i ve , long-term study assessed the effects of a protein hydrolysate formula on allergy prevention in infants with a family history of allergy . Infants were r and omly assigned to receive either the  hydrolysate formula ( n = 92 ) or an adapted cow milk formula  ( n = 85 ) alone or with breast-feeding for 4 months . The groups did not differ in family allergy history scores or cord blood IgE levels . After 4 months , total IgE levels and allergic reactions did not differ significantly between groups , although the hydrolysate group had a lower prevalence of eczema . At 12 months of age , neither IgE levels nor allergic reactions were significantly different . At 2 years of age , however , 18 allergic reactions had occurred in the hydrolysate group and 31 had occurred in the control group ; the differences were significant for eczema ( p < 0.001 ) but not for asthma . At 4 years of age , allergic signs were found in 11 children in the hydrolysate group and in 17 children in the control group ; the difference was significant only for eczema ( p < 0.01 ) . These results suggest that early feeding of a protein hydrolysate formula to infants at risk for allergies had a long-term preventive effect on the prevalence of eczema but not of asthma
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 .