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 .
Hypoallergenicity of an extensively hydrolyzed whey formula.
Several different protein hydrolysate-based infant formulas have been promoted as hypoallergenic and considered suitable for the dietary management of cow 's milk allergy ( CMA ) . Accepting that none of the hydrolysate-based products is completely safe , the American Academy of Pediatrics ( AAP ) recommends that these formulas should be tested in a double-blind placebo-controlled setting and tolerated by at least 90 % of children with proven CMA . In principle , this recommendation is also endorsed by the European Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition ( ESPGAN ) and the European Society of Paediatric Allergy and Clinical Immunology ( ESPACI ) . In this two-center study , 32 children with proven CMA were tested with the extensive hydrolysate whey formula Nutrilon Pepti , for comparison with Profylac ( extensive ) and Nan HA ( partial ) whey hydrolysate products .  Skin-prick tests ( SPTs ) were , respectively , positive to the three hydrolysate formulas in 19 % , 15 % , and 32 % of children . After oral challenge it was concluded that 97 % ( 95 % CI : 85 - 100 % ) of the children tolerated  Nutrilon Pepti , 94 % ( 95 % CI : 75 - 100 % ) tolerated Profylac , and 64 % ( 95 % CI : 37 - 81 % ) tolerated Nan HA . This study demonstrates that the extensive hydrolysates Nutrilon Pepti and Profylac are well tolerated in a population of children with proven CMA and that both products can be considered safe for their intended use . This study confirms that a very small number of children react even to extensively hydrolyzed formulas . SPT prior to oral exposure to the hydrolysate-based formulas can indicate whether a child is at risk of showing reactions to the product . Introduction of new products to these children should be carried out under a doctor 's supervision . However , the majority of the SPT-positive children did tolerate the two extensively hydrolyzed whey-based formulas tested
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 .