Hypoallergenicity and efficacy of an amino acid-based formula in children with cow's milk and multiple food hypersensitivities.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the hypoallergenicity and efficacy of a pediatric amino acid-based formula (AAF), EleCare, for children with cow's milk allergy (CMA) and multiple food allergies (MFA).


METHODS
Hypoallergenicity was determined by performing blinded oral food challenges in 31 consecutive children with documented CMA. Growth, tolerance, and biochemical response were evaluated during a nonrandomized feeding study with each child serving as his or her own control.


RESULTS
Thirty-one children (median age, 23.3 months; range, 6 months to 17.5 years) were recruited; 29 had MFA, 17 had acute reactions and cow's milk-specific IgE antibody, and 14 had allergic eosinophilic gastroenteritis. At study entry, 23 were receiving another AAF; 13 had not tolerated extensively hydrolyzed formula. Eighteen subjects with allergic eosinophilic gastroenteritis and/or MFA were followed up while receiving AAF for a median of 21 months (range, 7 to 40 months), with biochemical analysis performed at 4 months. No statistically significant differences were observed in the change in weight or height National Center for Health Statistics z scores from entry; the percent of expected growth exceeded 90%. There was a small decline in percent eosinophils and increase in hemoglobin, hematocrit, and serum ferritin level (P < .05). Except for small increases in plasma leucine and valine levels (P < or = .006), the remaining biochemical markers were unchanged.


CONCLUSIONS
The AAF was hypoallergenic and effective in maintaining normal growth for children with CMA and MFA.
Sicherer
S H
SH
Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York 10029-6574, USA.
Noone
S A
SA
Koerner
C B
CB
Christie
L
L
Burks
A W
AW
Sampson
H A
HA
D000293:Adolescent; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005504:Food Analysis; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D008297:Male; D016269:Milk Hypersensitivity / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000596:Amino Acids; D007073:Immunoglobulin E