The influence of breast feeding on the development of atopic dermatitis.: Exclusive breast feeding versus initial short term feeding of a partial hydrolysate followed by breast milk

Newborns (n = 84) from families with a positive history for atopic dermatitis were pro-spectively investigated. 71 children were exclusively breast fed (group A), whereas 13 (group B) received a partial whey protein hydrolysate (Beba HA; Nestle AG) for up to maximally the first six weeks of life and were also exclusively breast fed thereafter. All mothers were instructed to use only food stuffs of low allergen content. After 12 months, 12 children (17%) in group A had developed atopic dermatitis whereas none in group B showed any atopic signs. After 18 months 23% of the children in group A showed manifestations of atopic dermatitis. In group B still no child showed disease symptoms. These results support the idea of tolerance by ingestion of 2 to 10 kD proteins during the early weeks of life. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.