Unlike the conclusions of the revised Cochrane review the export group set up by the Section on Paediatrics , European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology ( SP-EAACI ) do not find that the exclusion of the four trials dem and s a change of the previous recommendations regarding primary dietary prevention of allergic diseases .
Based on analysis of published peer- review ed observational and interventional studies the results still indicate that breastfeeding is highly recommended for all infants irrespective of atopic heredity .
A dietary regimen is effective in the prevention of allergic diseases in high-risk infants , particularly in early infancy regarding food allergy and eczema .
The most effective dietary regimen is exclusively breastfeeding for at least 4 - 6 months or , in absence of breast milk , formulas with documented reduced allergenicity for at least the first 4 months , combined with avoidance of solid food and cow 's milk for the first 4 months
Allergic symptoms up to 4–6 years of age in children given cow milk neonatally A prospective study
In a previously published prospect i ve study , we followed the development of allergic symptoms in term infants with a slightly reduced birthweight ( − 1 SD to − 2 SD ) . These children received , according to local routing early feeding with cow milk formula in order to diminish such neonatal problems as hypoglycemia and hyperbilirubinemia . Of 216 infants 207 were observed for allergic symptoms up to 18 months of age . One group ( F ) received cow milk formula during the first days of life before the mother 's breastmilk production started and was then breastfed ; the other ( B ) was not given any formula before normal breastfeeding started . Unexpectedly , we found fewer allergic symptoms , in particular allergic skin problems , in the group fed cow milk , the difference being concentrated to children with a family fistory of allergic symptoms . At 5 Years of age 183 of the 207 children have been reinvestigated . Mild symptoms of allergy ( suspected and obvious ) were found in 22 % ( F ) and 27 % ( B ) respectively(NS ) . Moderate and severe symptoms of allergy ( obvious ) were found in 4.2 % ( F ) and 4.5 % ( B ) . In the subgroup with a double family history of allergic symptoms , 28 % ( 7/25 , F ) and 59 % ( 10/17 , B ) had symptoms of allergy ( p<0.05 ) . This difference was even more pronounced when laboratory tests in favour of atopic diagnosis were included , 1.4 % ( F ) and 53%(B ) respectively ( p < 0.05 ) . Thus at 5 years we still find a significantly lower frequency of allergic symptoms in the subgroup fed cow milk formula early with a family history of allergic symptoms . This difference was mainly caused by a reduced incidence of mild symptoms , some of which might not be true allergic symptoms . The incidence of moderate to severe disease was not affected , which can possibly be due to the relatively small number of children , expecially in the high risk group . Thus feeding with a high allergenic load during the first days of life seems , in the long run , to be ineffective in inhibiting the development of Significant ( moderate and severe ) atopic disease
Unlike the conclusions of the revised Cochrane review the export group set up by the Section on Paediatrics , European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology ( SP-EAACI ) do not find that the exclusion of the four trials dem and s a change of the previous recommendations regarding primary dietary prevention of allergic diseases .
Based on analysis of published peer- review ed observational and interventional studies the results still indicate that breastfeeding is highly recommended for all infants irrespective of atopic heredity .
A dietary regimen is effective in the prevention of allergic diseases in high-risk infants , particularly in early infancy regarding food allergy and eczema .
The most effective dietary regimen is exclusively breastfeeding for at least 4 - 6 months or , in absence of breast milk , formulas with documented reduced allergenicity for at least the first 4 months , combined with avoidance of solid food and cow 's milk for the first 4 months