[Somatic development assessment of children with food allergy treated with milk free diet]

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
• Clinical Nutrition
• Child Development

Background:

• Cow's milk allergy is a common condition in infants and young children.
• Elimination diets are a primary management strategy for food allergies.
• Assessing the long-term impact of different formulas on growth is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effect of one-year elimination diets on somatic development.
• To assess the nutritional status of children with cow's milk allergy.
• To compare the outcomes of hydrolyzed casein versus soy protein formulas.

Main Methods:

• Study included 25 children (aged 1-7 years) with diagnosed cow's milk allergy.
• Children were assigned to receive either hydrolyzed casein (n=10) or soy protein (n=15) formula.
• Anthropometric measurements (height, weight, arm circumference, skinfold) were taken before and after one year of dietary intervention, compared to population norms.

Main Results:

• Both hydrolyzed casein and soy protein formulas supported normal somatic development in children.
• Nutritional status was maintained within normal ranges for both dietary groups after one year.
• No significant adverse effects on growth parameters were observed with either formula.

Conclusions:

• Elimination diets based on hydrolyzed casein or soy protein formulas are effective for managing cow's milk allergy.
• These dietary interventions promote healthy somatic development and maintain adequate nutritional status in affected children.
• Both formula types appear to be safe and beneficial for long-term growth in this pediatric population.