Longitudinal assessment of early growth in children with IgE- and non-IgE-mediated food allergy in a healthy infant cohort

The Multiple Facets of Cow's Milk Allergy

Cow's milk allergy (CMA) is one of the most common food allergies in early childhood. CMA has varied presentations and multiple facets. A detailed clinical history is key for classification. In IgE-mediated CMA, skin prick testing and serum specific IgE testing are useful in the diagnosis, but an oral food challenge may still be necessary if there is doubt or to assess tolerance. Non-IgE-mediated CMA presentations include food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis, food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome, and eosinophilic esophagitis. The diagnosis of food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis and food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome is based on the clinical history. An esophageal biopsy is required for the diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis. Atopy patch testing, IgG testing, or IgG4 testing is not helpful in any CMA evaluation. Children with CMA (except those with food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis) are at risk for poor growth, and a nutritional evaluation should be part of routine care. Extensively hydrolyzed formulas are the recommended first-choice alternative formula for CMA. For IgE-mediated CMA, alternative approaches to traditional strict avoidance include oral immunotherapy and omalizumab (both as monotherapy and as an adjunct to oral immunotherapy). Multiple international guidelines have addressed evaluation and management of CMA, providing key information, support, and guidance for clinicians in daily practice.

Tolerance of Infants Fed a Hydrolyzed Rice Infant Formula with 2'-Fucosyllactose (2'-FL) Human Milk Oligosaccharide (HMO)

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this research was to assess the growth, tolerance, and compliance outcomes associated with the consumption of a hydrolyzed rice infant formula (HRF) enriched with 2'-Fucosyllactose (2'-FL) a Human Milk Oligosaccharide (HMO), and nucleotides in an intended population of infants.

METHODS

This was a non-randomized single-group, multicenter study. The study formula was a hypoallergenic HRF with 2'-FL, Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), Arachidonic acid (ARA), and nucleotides. Infants 0-90 days of age who were formula fed and experiencing persistent feeding intolerance symptoms, symptoms of suspected food protein (milk and/or soy) allergy, or other conditions where an extensively hydrolyzed infant formula was deemed an appropriate feeding option were recruited by pediatricians from their local populations. The primary outcome was maintenance of weight-for-age z-score. Weight, length, head circumference, formula intake, tolerance measures, clinical symptoms and questionnaires were collected. Thirty-three infants were enrolled, and 27 completed the study, on study product.

RESULTS

Weight-for-age z-scores of infants showed a statistically significant improvement from Visit 1 to Visit 4 (p = 0.0331). There was an adequate daily volume intake of 762 ± 28 mL/day, average daily number of stools of 2.1 ± 0.3, and mean rank stool consistency of 2.38 ± 0.18. After 28 days of switching to a HRF, 86.8 ± 5.9% of the symptoms resolved or got better by Visit 4 as reported by parents.

CONCLUSIONS

HRF with 2'-FL HMO was safe, well tolerated, and supported weight gain in infants with suspected cow's milk allergy or persistent feeding intolerance.