Melbourne Newsroom: Study challenges baby formula claim

Hypoallergenic baby formula does not reduce a baby's risk of developing allergies in later life, a Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, The University of Melbourne and John Hunter Children's Hospital study has found.

Despite the formula being recommended in public health guidelines set out by the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, the new study, published online in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, found there was no benefit in using hypoallergenic (partially hydrolysed whey) formula to prevent allergies in high-risk infants up to seven years of age, compared to a conventional cow's milk based formula.

The trial, which is one the largest to test the effect of hypoallergenic baby formula,involved 620 infants and assessed whether using the formula decreased the risk of allergy in later life.

Infants in the study were given either hypoallergenic, cow's milk or soy formula after the cessation of breastfeeding. Allergy testing was undertaken at six, 12 and 24 months and children were followed up again at six or seven years of age.

Lead authors Adrian Lowe from the Centre for MEGA Epidemiology, the University of Melbourne and a research fellow at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, and David Hill, a Senior Consultant Allergist at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute said their findings did not support the recommendations that hypoallergenic formula should be used after breast feeding as a preventive strategy for infants at high risk of allergenic disease...

... the whole article you can find on