Development of atopic disease after early administration of cow milk formula.
We prospectively studied the incidence of atopic disease in healthy term infants with a birth weight between -1 and -2 SD who were fed a cow milk formula during the first few days of life. A total of 216 infants were randomized to receive either early feeding with formula before normal breastfeeding was started (n = 112) or "normal feeding" with breastmilk (n = 104). Symptoms of allergy developed in 18% of the infants before 18 months of age in the formula fed group, as compared to 33% in the breastfed group (P less than 0.05). The difference was confined to the group of infants with a history of allergy in two family members. Thus, 11% of the formula-fed infants developed allergy symptoms, as compared to 61% of the control infants (P less than 0.01). Our study implies that early feeding during the first days of life with a cow milk formula, before the introduction of breastmilk, may reduce the incidence of allergy symptoms before 18 months of age in infants with a family history of allergy.
Lindfors
A
A
Department of Pediatrics, Danderyd Hospital, Sweden.
Enocksson
E
E
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008892:Milk / Q000276:immunology*; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000276:immunology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation
D007073:Immunoglobulin E