Hydrolysed Casein Formula May Slash Eczema in Infants

Infant formula containing hydrolysed casein proteins reduced the development of eczema by 33 per cent, says a three-year study from Germany. The researchers, from Marien-Hospital Wesel, Ludwig Maximilians University, Neuherberg’s Institute of Epidemiology, and Technical University of Munich, recruited 2252 newborns with a family history of allergy and assigned them to one of four intervention groups: formula containing only cow’s milk (control), or formulas with partially hydrolyzed whey, extensively hydrolyzed whey, or extensively hydrolyzed casein.

Cow’s milk proteins, which are the most widely used in routine infant formulas, are the most common allergen in infancy, so the study examined formulas in which the proteins were broken down to decrease the chances of allergy.

The German Infant Nutritional Intervention Study (GINI) found that after three years, the partially hydrolyzed whey formula and the extensively hydrolyzed casein formula reduced the period prevalence of eczema by 48 and 47 per cent, respectively, while the cumulative incidence for the extensively hydrolyzed casein formula decreased by 33 per cent, compared to the cow’s milk formula group.

Infant formula is a highly emotive area, with watchdogs keeping a close eye on companies’ marketing tactics lest they drift towards promoting their products as preferable to breast-feeding.

While it is agreed that breastfeeding is the best way to ensure an infant receives the nutrients it needs in its first months, formulas are indispensable in cases where mothers are unable to feed their children – be it for health or logistical reasons. Mothers’ desire to give their children the best possible start in life means that there is scope for fortification.

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