Hypoallergenic Milk Trialed To Prevent Eczema In Babies

A hypoallergenic milk formula that could stop the development of eczema in babies is being trialled at St Mary’s and Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospitals in London, part of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.

The study is looking at the effect of early nutrition on allergy prevention in babies who are at risk of developing allergies because their mother or father has hay fever, a food allergy, eczema or asthma.

Both hospitals are currently recruiting for mothers to take part in the study. All mothers who take part will be encouraged to breastfeed their babies for as long as possible. The women who decide to add any formula or change completely to formula feeding before their baby is four months old will receive either the new hypoallergenic formula, or standard formula.

Dr Robert Boyle said: “Particularly for babies with an increased risk of becoming allergic, breastfeeding is the best way to feed your baby. But there are several reasons why mothers decide to give formula milk at some point after birth. We are looking for the next best alternative that could help babies at a risk of allergies.”

The new formula contains pre-digested proteins, rather than whole proteins, which are broken down into smaller pieces. It also contains prebiotics, which are natural compounds found in breast milk that encourage healthy bacteria to develop in the baby’s gut and potentially prevent allergies.

The study is placebo-controlled, which means that some women in the trial will receive standard infant formula that consists of whole proteins and no prebiotics, but equivalent nutritional value. Throughout the 18-month study each mother and baby will visit the hospital for five clinical visits to identify if allergies are developing and receive the appropriate treatment.

Eczema and asthma are common allergic diseases that have increased sharply in the last 30 years. Eczema is seen mainly in early childhood whereas asthma develops later.

For more information or to take part in the trial please call Suzan Jeffries on: 07872 850 262.

.Additional information:

• Danone Research produces the formula and is funding the study.

• The research study will look at all babies with a high risk of developing allergy – regardless of how they are fed. Therefore the decision whether or not to change from breastfeeding to formula feeding will not influence whether mothers can take part in the study.

• The study intends to recruit 1200 mothers

• Any parent wishing to take part in the study will have a skin prick test to establish that they are allergic. Skin prick testing involves placing a drop of clear solution on the forearm and pricking the skin through the solution.

• The Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust comprises Charing Cross, Hammersmith Hospital, Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea, St Mary’s and Western Eye hospitals. It is the largest Trust in the country, and in partnership with Imperial College London, is the UK’s first Academic Health Science Centre (AHSC)

• The AHSC was created to take the research discoveries it makes and translate them into new and improved treatments and techniques to directly benefit patients throughout the Trust.

 

www.imperial.nhs.uk

 

Press Release Supplied With the Kind Permission of Caroline Weller, The Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust Press Office

 

Page created: 18 December 2008