Antigenicity of infant formulas: role of immature intestine on protein permeability

Abstract

Preliminary studies of 25 infants fed casein hydrolysate, soy-based or milk-based formulas were undertaken to determine the importance of age with respect to the relative antigenicity of formula proteins. Infants fed casein hydrolysate for the first three months had lower antibody titers (hemagglutinins) to subsequent milk-based or soy-based proteins than those given these formulas since birth. The clinical implications with regard to atopy and gastrointestinal protein intolerance are discussed. Soy protein is at least as antigenic as milk protein and should be used with caution in prophylaxis against possible dietary antigen/antibody-related disease.