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Review
. 2024 Jul 18;16(14):2317.
doi: 10.3390/nu16142317.

Elimination Diets in Lactating Mothers of Infants with Food Allergy

Mariannita Gelsomino  1 , Lucia Liotti  2 , Simona Barni  3 , Francesca Mori  3 , Mattia Giovannini  3   4 , Carla Mastrorilli  5 , Luca Pecoraro  6 , Francesca Saretta  7 , Riccardo Castagnoli  8   9 , Stefania Arasi  10 , Angela Klain  11 , Michele Miraglia Del Giudice  11 , Elio Novembre  4
Affiliations
Review

Elimination Diets in Lactating Mothers of Infants with Food Allergy

Mariannita Gelsomino et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

Breastfeeding is the most important nutrition source for infants. However, managing breastfed infants with signs and symptoms related to food allergy can be difficult. Many studies have shown the presence of different food allergens in breast milk, but the clinical role of these antigens in human milk is still much debated. Milk is the main suspect in exclusively breastfed infants with signs and symptoms attributable to food allergy, even if other foods may be responsible. This narrative review analyzes the recommendations provided by international guidelines to determine the diagnosis and management of IgE-mediated and non-IgE-mediated food allergies in exclusively breastfed infants. Dietary restrictions in lactating mothers of infants with suspected FA are usually not necessary. Only in the very few cases where significant allergy signs and symptoms occur in the infant during exclusive breastfeeding should the lactating mother follow an elimination diet for the suspected food for a short period.

Keywords: exclusively breastfed infants; food allergy; lactating mothers.

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Conflict of interest statement

M.G. (Mattia Giovannini) reports personal fees from Sanofi. Other authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Factors influencing the transfer of cow’s milk proteins into breast milk and allergy to breast milk.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Algorithm for the management of a suspected FA in exclusively breastfed infants.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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