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 .
Randomised controlled trial of brief neonatal exposure to cows’ milk on the development of atopy
OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of brief early exposure to cows ’ milk on  atopy in the first 2 years of life . DESIGN Double blind , placebo controlled , r and omised feeding intervention trial ( Bokaal study ) . SETTING Dutch midwifery practice s. PARTICIPANTS 1533 breast fed neonates . INTERVENTION Exposure to cows ’ milk protein ( n = 758 ) or a protein free placebo ( n = 775 ) during the first 3 days of life . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Clinical atopic disease and any positive radioallergosorbent ( RAST ) tests at 1 year of age . RESULTS Atopic disease in the first year was found in 10.0 % ( cows ’ milk)v 9.3 % ( placebo ) of the children , with a relative risk of 1.07 ; in the second year , atopic disease was found in 9.6 % v 10.2 % , respectively , with a relative risk of 0.94 . Per protocol analysis showed similar results . Any RAST positive test was found in 9.4 % ( cows ’ milk)v 7.9 % ( placebo ) of children , with a relative risk of 1.19 . Stratified analysis for high family risk of allergy showed a doubled incidence of atopic disease but no effect from the intervention . CONCLUSION Early and brief exposure to cows ’ milk in breast fed children does not increase the risk of atopic disease in the first 2 years
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 .