[Prevention of food allergy]

The occurrence of allergic diseases depends on genetic and environmental factors. Genetic factors determine individual risk and these persons should undergo early detection. However, the methods currently available (mainly clinical history and IgE in umbilical cord blood) have poor predictive value so their use in the general population is not practical. In contrast, the feeding habits of newborns and infants can influence the development of food allergies in children at risk. Therefore, several modes of action have been proposed, based mainly on prolonging breast-feeding (with the mother avoiding allergenic foods) and delaying the introduction of complementary foods considered to be a risk. Use of cow milk protein hydrolysates may have a preventive effect similar to that of breast-feeding, but their administration is not problem-free. The preventive effect of partial hydrolysates or soybean formulas is even more questionable.