Do hydrolysed infant formulas reduce the risk of allergic disease?
BMJ 2016; 352 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.i1143 (Published 08 March 2016) Cite this as: BMJ 2016;352:i1143
- Caroline Jane Lodge, research fellow1,
- Adrian John Lowe, senior research fellow1,
- Shyamali Chandrika Dharmage, professor1
- 1Allergy and Lung Health Unit, Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Vic 3010, Australia
- Correspondence to: C J Lodge clodge{at}unimelb.edu.au
Breast feeding is the first and most important feeding exposure, and it facilitates the establishment of the microbiome of the infant gut by providing breast milk microbiota, immunomodulatory factors, and oligosaccharides.1 While there is insufficient evidence to state that breast feeding prevents allergies,2 it seems to prevent a range of other diseases and is universally encouraged.3 Guidelines advocate exclusive breast feeding for four to six months (with WHO recommending six months) and complementary feeding for at least one to two years. Breast milk substitutes are used on cessation of established breast feeding or earlier if mothers cannot breast feed. The quality of these substitutes, and their ability to play a role in optimal health and disease prevention, are of intense interest, both to the public and also to commercial entities keen to produce an acceptable and safe alternative to breast milk.
A linked systematic review by Boyle and colleagues (doi:10.1136/bmj.i974) investigates whether hydrolysed cows’ milk …