AUTHORS ' CONCLUSIONS Feeding with a soy formula can not be recommended for prevention of allergy or food intolerance in infants at high risk of allergy or food intolerance .
BACKGROUND Allergies and food reactions in infants and children are common and may be associated with a variety of foods including adapted cow 's milk formula .
Soy based formulas have been used to treat infants with allergy or food intolerance .
However , it is unclear whether they can help prevent allergy and food intolerance in infants without clinical evidence of allergy or food intolerance .
OBJECTIVES To determine the effect of feeding adapted soy formula compared to human milk , cow 's milk formula or a hydrolysed protein formula on preventing allergy or food intolerance in infants without clinical evidence of allergy or food intolerance .
Allergen avoidance in infancy and allergy at 4 years of age
In an attempt to prevent or reduce the manifestations of atopic disease , a group of infants considered to be genetically at high risk of atopy was entered in a prenatally r and omized , controlled study . A prophylactic group ( n= 58 ) was either breast‐fed with their mothers excluding foods regarded as highly antigenic from their diets , or given an extensively hydrolysed formula . In addition , strenuous efforts were made to reduce exposure to the house‐dust mite by application of acaricide to the bedroom and living room carpets and upholstered furniture . A control group ( n= 62 )  was fed conventionally by breast or on formula , and no specific environmental measures were taken . The results ( previously reported ) after 1 year showed significantly less total allergy , asthma , and eczema in the prophylactic group . Similar results were obtained at 2 years although the reduction in asthma no longer achieved statistical significance . However , there was significantly less sensitization , as shown by a battery of skin prick tests ( SPTs ) , to both dietary allergens and aeroallergens in the prophylactic group . A11 the children have now been review ed at the age of 4 years , and SPTs to a wide range of dietary allergens and aeroallergens have been performed . The control group continues to show more total allergy ( odds ratio [ OR ] 2.73 , 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] 1.21–6.13 , P<0.02 ) , definite allergy ( allergic symptoms plus positive SPT ) ( OR 5.6 , CI 1.8–17.9 , P<0.005 ) , and eczema ( OR 3.4 , CI 1.2–10.1 , P<0.05 ) . More control children have positive SPTs ( OR 3.7 , CI 1.3–10.0 , P<0.02 ) . A dual approach to the prevention of allergic disease , avoiding as far as possible sensitization to food and aeroallergens , significantly reduces the risk of atopic disease . This should be reserved for infants considered at very high risk of atopy , and close medical and dietetic supervision must be available
AUTHORS ' CONCLUSIONS Feeding with a soy formula can not be recommended for prevention of allergy or food intolerance in infants at high risk of allergy or food intolerance .
BACKGROUND Allergies and food reactions in infants and children are common and may be associated with a variety of foods including adapted cow 's milk formula .
Soy based formulas have been used to treat infants with allergy or food intolerance .
However , it is unclear whether they can help prevent allergy and food intolerance in infants without clinical evidence of allergy or food intolerance .
OBJECTIVES To determine the effect of feeding adapted soy formula compared to human milk , cow 's milk formula or a hydrolysed protein formula on preventing allergy or food intolerance in infants without clinical evidence of allergy or food intolerance .