TOPLINE:

An extensively hydrolyzed formula with a synbiotic alleviated or resolved symptoms in more than 85% of infants with presumed cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA) within 4 weeks. Parents reported high acceptability of the formula and a significant improvement in their quality of life.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers conducted an observational study in France from June 2021 to April 2023, analyzing 80 infants aged 8 months or younger with presumed immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated or non-IgE-mediated CMPA.
• All participants received an extensively hydrolyzed formula with a synbiotic containing galacto-oligosaccharide, fructo-oligosaccharide, and Bifidobacterium breve M-16V.
• Primary outcomes were changes in general condition and symptoms assessed using a four-level Likert scale (worse/identical/improved [or alleviated]/resolved) at the 28-day follow-up.
• Researchers assessed parents’ quality of life using the Family Quality of Life-Parental Burden (FAQL‐PB) score, where higher scores indicated greater parental burden.

TAKEAWAY:

• The general condition improved or resolved in 86.3% (95% CI, 78.7%-93.8%) of participants at week 28.
• Overall, digestive, cutaneous, and respiratory symptoms resolved or were alleviated in 93.2% (95% CI, 87.5%-99.0%), 68.4% (95% CI, 53.6%-83.2%) and 62.5% (95% CI, 38.8%-86.2%) of participants, respectively.
• The formula was deemed suitable by 78.8% of parents.
• At week 28, a significant decrease in the FAQL‐PB score from baseline was observed (P < .001).

IN PRACTICE:

“For clinical practice, this study emphasizes the need to wait at least 2 weeks before changing the formula or reassessing the diagnosis,” the authors of the study wrote. 

SOURCE:

Anaïs Lemoine, MD, with the Sorbonne Université, Paris, France, was the corresponding author of the study, which was published online on December 5 in the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition.

LIMITATIONS:

This study was limited by its single‑arm, uncontrolled design and short follow-up duration. The confirmation of CMPA was limited by subjective symptoms and the absence of early challenge testing. Concomitant symptomatic treatments were not recorded and may have affected symptom-related outcomes.

DISCLOSURES:

This study was funded by Nutricia. Several authors reported receiving grants or contracts; consultancy fees; payment or honoraria for lectures, presentations, speakers bureaus, manuscript writing, or educational events; and support for attending meetings and/or travel from the funding company and other healthcare companies.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.