Hypoallergenicity and efficacy of an amino acid–based formula in children with cow’s milk and multiple food hypersensitivities

• Published in: The Journal of pediatrics Vol. 138; no. 5; pp. 688 - 693
• Main Authors: Sicherer, Scott H., Noone, Sally A., Koerner, Celide Barnes, Christie, Lynn, Burks, A.Wesley, Sampson, Hugh A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Mosby, Inc 01.05.2001; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Amino Acids - administration & dosage; Amino Acids - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child, Preschool; Eosinophils - physiology; Female; Food Analysis; Food Hypersensitivity - therapy; Humans; Immunoglobulin E - immunology; Infant; Infant Food; Male; Medical sciences; Milk Hypersensitivity - therapy; Miscellaneous; Radiotherapy. Instrumental treatment. Physiotherapy. Reeducation. Rehabilitation, orthophony, crenotherapy. Diet therapy and various other treatments (general aspects); Treatment Outcome; MFA; CM; AEG; DBPCFCs; NCHS; CMA; Human; Immunopathology; Allergy; Treatment efficiency; Tolerance; Infant; Dietetic product; Diet therapy; Aminoacid; Adolescent; Cow milk; Somatic growth; Child; Food
• ISSN: 0022-3476; 1097-6833
• DOI: 10.1067/mpd.2001.113007

Objective: To determine the hypoallergenicity and efficacy of a pediatric amino acid–based formula (AAF), EleCare, for children with cow’s milk allergy (CMA) and multiple food allergies (MFA). Study design: Hypoallergenicity was determined by performing blinded oral food challenges in 31 consecutive children with documented CMA. Growth, tolerance, and biochemical response were evaluated during a nonrandomized feeding study with each child serving as his or her own control. Results: Thirty-one children (median age, 23.3 months; range, 6 months to 17.5 years) were recruited; 29 had MFA, 17 had acute reactions and cow’s milk–specific IgE antibody, and 14 had allergic eosinophilic gastroenteritis. At study entry, 23 were receiving another AAF; 13 had not tolerated extensively hydrolyzed formula. Eighteen subjects with allergic eosinophilic gastroenteritis and/or MFA were followed up while receiving AAF for a median of 21 months (range, 7 to 40 months), with biochemical analysis performed at 4 months. No statistically significant differences were observed in the change in weight or height National Center for Health Statistics z scores from entry; the percent of expected growth exceeded 90%. There was a small decline in percent eosinophils and increase in hemoglobin, hematocrit, and serum ferritin level (P <.05). Except for small increases in plasma leucine and valine levels (P ≤.006), the remaining biochemical markers were unchanged. Conclusions: The AAF was hypoallergenic and effective in maintaining normal growth for children with CMA and MFA. (J Pediatr 2001;138:688-93)