title: A randomized, single-blind and crossover study of an amino acid-based milk formula in treating young children with atopic dermatitis.
abstract: Cow's milk and soy protein allergies are commonly associated with atopic dermatitis (AD) in young children. Amino acid (AA)-based elemental milk formula may improve AD control in these patients. This study investigates the efficacy of AA-based formula in treating young AD patients irrespective of their food allergy status. AD patients younger than 3 yr old were eligible. Sensitization to food allergens was ascertained by skin prick tests and allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) assay. Patients were then randomly allocated to take either active treatment or pre-existing formulae (placebo) for 6 wk. They were allowed a 6-wk washout period before crossed over to the other intervention for another 6 wk. Fifteen AD patients, with median (interquartile range, IQR) age of 1.4 (0.6-2.6) yr, were recruited. Their median (IQR) SCORAD score was 23.9 (10.5-29.7). Seven of them were sensitized to cow's milk or soybean. Among 11 patients who completed the study, the median changes for all scores and urinary eosinophil protein X (EPX) concentration were not statistically significant. There was also no evidence of carry-over effects for SCORAD and its various components and global health score, except for urinary EPX concentration (p = 0.05). Our results do not support the use of AA-based elemental milk formula in treating young children with AD irrespective of their food allergy status.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. leung2142@cuhk.edu.hk
authors.forename: Ting Fan
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: Kwok Chiu
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Lorena T F
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Christopher W K
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Helene
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: Ellis K L
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Hon
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000178:diet therapy*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D041943:Infant Formula / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D012882:Skin Tests / Q000379:methods; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids