As research progesses into the possible health benefits linked to breast-feeding scientists continue to look at the alternatives available in infant formulae. New evidence from a Cochrane review concludes that where exclusive breast-feeding is not possible, hydrolysed protein formulae in high-risk infants could help prevent childhood allergies.
In this latest study researchers reviewed the results of eighteen separate pieces of research to determine whether hydrolysed protein formula had any positive effects compared to cow's milk or soy milk formulae.
The hydrolysed formulae were shown to significantly lower the risk of allergies, including food allergy, asthma and eczema, claim the researchers.
Dr John Sinn, one of the authors of the Cochrane review, commented: "By bringing together the worlwide evidence, we have shown how to reduce the risk of developing childhood allergies among babies with a family predisposition to allergies who cannot be exclusively breast fed. If they drink hydrolysed formula milk, instead of cow's milk or soy infant formulae, their chances of becoming allergic will be reduced."
Past research, says the Cochrane group, suggests that many young children who develop allergies do not have a family history. However, if a parent, brother or sister suffers from an allergy, a baby has a one in three risk of becoming allergic. The risk becomes as high as two in three if both parents suffer from allergic symptoms, such as asthma and hay fever.
For those high-risk infants who cannot be exclusively breast-fed, adapted (hydrolysed) formulae, which were first developed to treat allergies, can be used to reduce this risk of developing allergic symptoms, say the researchers.
The US-based Cochrane Collaboration, launched in 1993, collates up-to-date reviews on the relative effectiveness of different healthcare interventions.
Full findings from the paper are published in 'Formulas containinghydrolysed protein for prevention of allergy and food intolerance in infants(Cochrane Review)' are published in the The CochraneLibrary, Issue 4, 2003