Does early diet have an effect on subsequent macromolecular absorption and serum IgE?

Abstract

A group of 130 healthy term infants were randomly assigned at birth to one of three feeding regimens for the first 3 days of life: human milk (HM), cow-milk formula (CMF), or a casein hydrolysate formula (CHF). The formula-fed infants received no human milk during the study days. After day 3, all infants were exclusively breast-fed. Blood samples were taken at 4 days and at 2 and 4 months of age during outpatient visits. Macromolecular absorption was analyzed 60 min after a feed of human milk by measuring the serum alpha-lactalbumin (S-alpha LA) concentrations by a competitive radioimmunoassay. Total serum IgE (S-IgE) was assayed by radioimmunoassay. The median S-IgE value was significantly lower at 2 months of age in the CHF group than in the HM group. The values remained significantly lower, even at 4 months of age, in the CHF group than in either the HM or the CMF group. The median S-alpha LA concentration at 2 months of age was significantly higher in the CHF group than in either the HM group or the CMF group. No significant differences could be found between the CMF and HM groups at any time. One infant in the HM group and one infant in the CMF group developed infantile colic. Two infants in the CHF group developed symptoms of cow-milk allergy. All other infants were healthy at 4 months of age.