Multiple Food Allergies Causes

Once you get the diagnosis, how do you best choose between the various formula types?

Your doctor will walk you through management options. For breastfed babies, the mother might need to eliminate the food allergens from her diet, under medical supervision. In some cases, your doctor may recommend supplementing or replacing breast milk with formula.

Nutricia North America supports the use of breast milk wherever possible

Let’s look at the main types of infant formulas and how they differ. We’ll go over which ones can be recommended in the case of MFA.

Most infant formulas in grocery stores contain cow milk. The protein part of the formula triggers the allergic reaction in children with cow milk allergy, the most common food allergy in infants and young children. Children with MFA often also have CMA. Therefore, these formulas are generally not recommended for managing children with MFA.

In trying to avoid cow milk proteins, many parents assume soy-based infant formulas are a suitable substitute.

In these products, soy protein replaces the cow milk protein.
Research has shown that up to 35% of children suffering from cow milk allergy are also allergic to soy protein.

A leading European pediatric society, ESPGHAN, recommends that: Soy-based formulas are not for the initial management of food allergy in infants. Soy-based formulas should not be used in infants with food allergy during the first six months of life.

Discuss with your clinician the best option for your child.

Hydrolyzed formulas contain fragments of milk proteins that have been broken down into smaller pieces than whole protein. There are two main categories of hydrolyzed formulas:

Partially hydrolyzed formulas (pHF):
The protein in these formulas has been broken down into smaller parts (called peptides). These formulas are not hypoallergenic and unsuitable for children allergic to milk. Their labels will not carry the word “hypoallergenic”.

Extensively hydrolyzed formulas (eHF):
The protein fragments (or peptides) in eHFs are even smaller than in pHFs.
Most eHF formulas are hypoallergenic and may be used in the management of children with cow milk allergy.

Studies have shown that up to 40% of infants with severe cow milk allergy do not tolerate eHFs. As a result, their symptoms might not be fully managed with the use of eHF formulas.
Be sure to consult your baby’s doctor about amino acid-based formulas like Neocate.

Neocate is an amino acid-based formula – it does not contain any intact protein or peptide chains. It is made up of the original building blocks of all proteins – amino acids. Amino acids being the most basic unit the body can use; they are the easiest to digest and absorb.

No allergic reaction can be triggered by free amino acids because the body’s immune system cannot “see” them in the same way it sees proteins and peptides as being foreign.

Neocate has the widest range of amino acid-based nutritional products for different age groups for the dietary management of CMA and GI/Allergy related conditions.