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 David Hill, a Senior Consultant Allergist at the
Murdoch Childrens Research Institute and Adrian Lowe, a research
fellow at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute and the Centre
for MEGA Epidemiology, the University of Melbourne 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.
"In our study of high risk children, this 'hypoallergenic'
formula did not show any beneficial effect, when compared with a
normal cows' milk based formula, for the prevention childhood
eczema, asthma or hay fever up to seven years of age," Dr Lowe
said.
Dr Hill said: "Our findings do not support the role of
hypoallergenic formula for the prevention of allergic disease.
Families at high risk of allergy should continue to be encouraged
to breast feed for the many known benefits associated with
breastfeeding."