IMMUNOLOGICAL AND NUTRITIONAL SIGNIFICANCE OF PARTLY HYDROLYZED FORMULA FOR HIGH RISK INFANTS WITH A FAMILY HISTORY OF ATOPY

The antigenecity and nutritional adequacy of N-253 formula, a partly hydrolyzed formula, were evaluated in high risk infants with a family history of atopy, on immunological and hematological parameters, weight gain, clinical conditions and stool characteristics; during the first four months of life. Its effects were compared with those observed in infants taking a conventional infant formula and breast-fed infants, There were no changes in serum IgE, cow's milk specific IgG, cow's milk-specific IgG4 concentrations and the number of eosinophils in the N-253 formula-fed infants during the study period. Whereas, those parameters were increased in infants fed with the conventional infant formula and in breast-fed infants. Positive RAST against cow's milk was not detected in the N-253 formula-fed infants (0/33), while it was detected in conventional infant formula-fed infants (2/13). Green and watery stools were observed more frequently in the N-253 formula-fed infants than in the conventional infant formula-fed infants. Weight gain and hematological values were within normal ranges in all three groups during the study period. These results suggest that the antigenecity of cow's milk is reduced in N-253 formula and that N-253 formula has nutritional efficacy for infants.