Effects of prolonged exposure to partially hydrolyzed milk protein

Formulas containing proteins with reduced potential to sensitize might be effective in reducing the risk of atopic disease, but such products should be nutritionally adequate. We designed a randomized, double-blind study to evaluate nutritional adequacy and sensitization potential of a formula containing partially hydrolyzed whey-predominant milk proteins. Subjects were term infants enrolled at birth. Infants in group A were fed human milk, and group B received the partially hydrolyzed formula; group C, fed a formula containing intact whey-predominant milk proteins, served as control subjects. We recorded anthropometric measurements and symptoms of formula intolerance at monthly intervals for 4 months in 205 infants. Milk IgE and IgG antibodies were measured until 8 months of age in 63 infants. Daily weight gain was not significantly different among the groups. Gastrointestinal symptoms attributed to feeding intolerance were also comparable. Increases in serum IgG antibodies were significantly greater in group C throughout the study. There were no significant differences in IgE antibodies. Thus a formula containing partially hydrolyzed whey-predominant milk protein promoted adequate growth and induced a lesser priming effect for IgG antibody response than did an intact whey-predominant formula.