Special Formula Cuts Allergy Risk

[Mama~Love]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080710/..._yfb0_KqTgcbYF

The study included 2,252 children born between 1995 and 1998 who all had at least one parent with allergies. All mothers in the study were encouraged to breastfeed, but in cases where breast milk was insufficient, they were randomly assigned to supplement with one of four options: standard formula, partially hydrolyzed whey formula, "extensively" hydrolyzed whey formula or extensively hydrolyzed casein formula.

Overall, the researchers found, children on any of the hydrolyzed formulas were less likely to develop allergies by the time they were 6 years old. A lower eczema risk appeared to be largely responsible for the difference.

In general, children in the hydrolyzed formulas groups were up to 29 percent less likely to develop eczema, and the protective effect was more pronounced when the researchers looked only at children whose parents had fully complied with the study's feeding regimen.

One of the formulas -- the extensively hydrolyzed whey formula -- only showed benefits when the children were 6 years old, von Berg told Reuters Health. In contrast, the other two had protective effects from the first year onward.

"So my preference," the researcher noted, "is one of (those) two."

However, von Berg said, infants who show an allergic reaction to regular formula should not be given a formula that is only partially hydrolyzed. In these cases, parents should always consult their pediatrician.

Nothing about how beneficial breastfeeding is/was, imagine that .

[Jaysfamily]

I thought I just saw another report that says the study showed that children that were exclusively breastfed had lower rates of asthma. Too bad that's not being reported.

I think the point of the study was to promote hydrolyzed formula as being the healthier option for supplementing over regular formula. I tend to agree with that assessment. I have always had low supply and am certain my son's GI reactions to foods were severely aggravated by him receiving regular formula in the nursery. Any future children that have to be supplemented will be supplemented with Alimentum, even in the hospital nursery if we have another preemie. With the rising rates of food allergies, I hope the hydrolyzed formulas start to become the normal option for formula fed or supplemented babies. Alimentum certainly needs some more competition since it's ridiculously expensive!

[~sweet pea~]

Originally Posted by Jaysfamily

I thought I just saw another report that says the study showed that children that were exclusively breastfed had lower rates of asthma. Too bad that's not being reported.

Huh? I think I know what you mean but....

[evlu]

Originally Posted by mommyofmany

Nothing about how beneficial breastfeeding is/was, imagine that .

But the article linked to DOES mention it:

"Breast milk is considered the best nutrition for infants, and has been shown to lower the risk of allergies.

But in cases where an infant has a parent or sibling who has suffered allergies, and it is necessary to supplement breast milk, parents should use a hydrolyzed formula, said Dr. Andrea von Berg, the lead researcher on the new study."

So the summary is saying that exclusive breastmilk is the best option for reducing allergy -- the hydrolyzed formula should only be used if formula is needed.

[Artemnesia]

I have to wonder how much skilled help they got with their "insufficient breastmilk" problem before the researchers had them get down to business (and start participating in their study) by switching to formula. And I have to wonder if they were encouraged to keep providing whatever amount of breastmilk that they could, assuming they DID have real supply problems. I'm thinking no, since that might mess up the results of the study. Gotta have one or the other, not both. Things that make you go HMMM.

But at any rate, the message of the story is old news. Yes when the proteins are broken down further (by being hydrolyzed, which incidentally makes them into a form of glutamate, aka MSG) they're less likely to provoke an allergic reaction. This has been known for quite some time.

[Jaysfamily]

Originally Posted by ~sweet pea~

Huh? I think I know what you mean but....

Sorry about that. It's been a looong week, I haven't had coffee in 3 days, and my brain is fried. I probably shouldn't be on the computer again until I've had enough sleep to make any sense in my posts! :yawning: