Dietary prevention of allergic diseases in infants and small children. Part III: Critical review of published peer-reviewed observational and interventional studies and final recommendations.
The role of primary prevention of allergic diseases has been a matter of debate for the last 40 years. In order to shed some light on this issue, a group of experts of the Section of Pediatrics EAACI reviewed critically the existing literature on the subject. An analysis of published peer-reviewed observational and interventional studies was performed following the statements of evidence as defined by WHO. The results of the analysis indicate that breastfeeding is highly recommended for all infants irrespective of atopic heredity. A dietary regimen is unequivocally effective in the prevention of allergic diseases in high-risk children. In these patients breastfeeding combined with avoidance of solid food and cow's milk for at least 4-6 months is the most effective preventive regimen. In the absence of breast milk, formulas with documented reduced allergenicity for at least 4-6 months should be used.
Muraro
Antonella
A
Department of Pediatrics, University of Padua, Padua, Italy. muraro@pediatria.unipd.it
Dreborg
Sten
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Halken
Susanne
S
Høst
Arne
A
Niggemann
Bodo
B
Aalberse
Rob
R
Arshad
Syed H
SH
Berg Av
Andrea von
Av
Carlsen
Kai-Håkon
KH
Duschén
Karel
K
Eigenmann
Philippe
P
Hill
David
D
Jones
Catherine
C
Mellon
Michael
M
Oldeus
Göran
G
Oranje
Arnold
A
Pascual
Cristina
C
Prescott
Susan
S
Sampson
Hugh
H
Svartengren
Magnus
M
Vandenplas
Yvan
Y
Wahn
Ulrich
U
Warner
Jill A
JA
Warner
John O
JO
Wickman
Magnus
M
Zeiger
Robert S
RS
D001942:Breast Feeding; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004032:Diet; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007223:Infant; D016269:Milk Hypersensitivity / Q000517:prevention & control