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 .
The diagnostic significance of IgG cow's milk protein antibodies re-evaluated
The effect of different feeding regimens , notably the use of hydrolysed cow 's milk formulas , on the development of allergic reactions and the development of cow 's milk protein-IgG antibodies is still disputed . We prospect ively compared the development of allergic manifestations and cow 's milk protein-IgG antibodies in a total of 702 infants who were divided into six groups:1.exclusively breast milk for at least 4 weeks (n=206).2.Breast milk plus initial partially hydrolysed formula (n=104).3.Breast milk plus extensively hydrolysed formula (n=50).4.Breast milk plus initial conventional cow 's milk formula (n=73).5.Conventional cow 's milk with or without breast milk throughout (n=187).6.Extensively hydrolysed cow 's milk formula for 2 months , followed by conventional cow 's milk (n=82).Cow 's milk protein antibodies were determined by an indirect immuno-fluorescent test . Antibody titres rose slowly in groups 1 , 3 and 6 . Children in group 5 showed two high peaks . There were no significant differences in the frequency and type of allergic manifestations between the groups . Introduction of cow 's milk formula during the first trimenon result ed in elevated antibody titres in all breast fed infants compared with introduction at a later date . Conclusion : In contrast to a previous study from the same laboratory , there is no diagnostic significance of cow 's milk protein-IgG antibodies for allergic manifestations . The occurrence of these antibodies is a physiological phenomenon : the shorter the breast feeding period and the earlier cow 's milk formula is introduced , the higher the antibody levels
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 .