Preventive effect of hydrolyzed infant formulas persists until age 6 years: long-term results from the German Infant Nutritional Intervention Study (GINI)

J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2008 Jun;121(6):1442-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2008.04.021.

Abstract

Background: The long-term effect of nutritional intervention with hydrolyzed infant formulas on allergy development has not been sufficiently evaluated.

Objective: We performed a follow-up of the German Infant Nutritional Intervention study until 6 years of life to investigate the long-term allergy-preventive effect of 3 hydrolyzed infant formulas compared with cow's milk formula (CMF) in a randomized, double-blind trial.

Methods: Between 1995 and 1998, 2252 newborns with atopic heredity were randomly assigned at birth to receive one of 4 blinded formulas: partially or extensively hydrolyzed whey formula, extensively hydrolyzed casein formula, or CMF as milk substitute for the first 4 months when breast-feeding was insufficient. The cohort was followed from birth until 6 years of age with yearly questionnaires. Outcomes were physician-diagnosed allergic diseases (atopic dermatitis, food allergy, allergic urticaria, asthma, and hay fever/allergic rhinitis). Log-binomial regression modeled with generalized estimation equations was used for the statistical analysis.

Results: In the intent-to-treat analysis the relative risk of a physician's diagnosis of allergic manifestation (AM) compared with CMF was 0.82 (95% CI, 0.70-0.96) for partially hydrolyzed whey formula, 0.90 (95% CI, 0.78-1.04) for extensively hydrolyzed whey formula, and 0.80 (95% CI, 0.69-0.93) for extensively hydrolyzed casein formula. The corresponding figures for atopic eczema were 0.79 (95% CI, 0.64-0.97), 0.92 (95% CI, 0.76-1.11), and 0.71 (95% CI, 0.58-0.88), respectively. In the per-protocol analysis all effects were stronger and significant. No significant effect on other AMs was found.

Conclusion: The data confirm a long-term allergy-preventive effect of hydrolyzed infant formulas on AM and atopic eczema until 6 years of age.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Caseins
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Hypersensitivity / epidemiology
  • Hypersensitivity / prevention & control*
  • Infant
  • Infant Formula*
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Milk Proteins
  • Prevalence
  • Protein Hydrolysates
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Whey Proteins

Substances

  • Caseins
  • Milk Proteins
  • Protein Hydrolysates
  • Whey Proteins