Pre-chewing for weaning: A traditional method for allergy prevention? Rationale, study design, and methods of the...

The increase of allergies is attributed to a multi-factorial pathogenesis. Multi-gene traits, as well as different environmental factors, are regarded as responsible for shaping the development of atopic entities. The microbiome's composition in particular seems to play a decisive role in allergy prevention and immunological defense. Another key factor is attributed to the early infant's diet. This trial aims to investigate the influence of an early introduction of processed allergenic foods via premastication, a common practice in human societies throughout the course of human evolution in which the caregiver pre-chews solids before feeding them to the infant.

Two parallel study groups of infants at risk for atopic diseases (N = 100) are planned to be included. Healthy caregivers of eligible infants can decide to participate by either (A) introducing solids with additional provision of a sugar-free ground biscuit suitable for pre-chewing that contains increasing amounts of hen's egg, cow's milk, peanut, and hazelnut proteins or (B) by introducing solids following current feeding recommendations. The primary endpoint will be the assessment of the diversity of the infant's intestinal microbiome. Secondary endpoints will include an assessment of the acceptance of the feeding habit, the development of food allergies or food sensitization, and infections, including potential caries development, in association with the composition of the infant's oral microbiome.

In reflection of the multifactorial pathogenesis of atopic diseases, this trial combines key factors strongly assumed to act "allergy-protective": (1) microbial diversity supporting inflammatory resilience and (2) targeted dietary introduction of allergenic foods supporting food tolerance.

German Clinical Trials Register DRKS00027255. Registered on 29 April 2022.