2006 Volume 18 Issue 1 Pages 19-27
The objective of this study was to immunologically and nutritionally evaluate infants with a high risk of atopic disease using a new partially hydrolyzed formula (PHF) . One hundred and fifty neonates with a family history of atopic disease were randomly divided into 2 groups and mother's milk was supplemented with PHF or a conventional milk formula (CMF) . The study period was 6 months after birth and immunology, the presence or absence of allergic symptoms and growth were evaluated. The infants (n=140) were followed for 6 months after birth. The infants were divided into 3 groups ; PHF-mixed nutrition group (PHF group, n=77), CMF-mixed nutrition group (CMF group, n=37), and complete mother's milk nutrition group (MM group, n=26) . No significant differences were noted in the serum total IgE or milk-specific IgE levels at 1 and 6 months of age among the 3 groups. None of the infants was positive for milk-specific IgG4 at 6 months of age in the PHF group, but 8 (22%) and 2 (8%) infants were positive in the CMF and MM groups, respectively. Levels were significantly lower in the PHF group than in the CMF group (P<0.001) . There were no significant differences in the incidences of atopic disease, growth or development among the 3 groups. The rate of appearance of serum milk-specific IgG4 subclass was lower at 6 months after birth in the PHF group than in the CMF group, suggesting that milk antigenicity of PHF was low.
