367 Influence of Cow's Milk Intake During the Complementary Feeding Period on Infants' Infectious and Allergic Morbidity

Abstract

It has been suggested that cow's milk intake during the complementary feeding period could negatively affect the health status of infants and toddlers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the possible influence of complementary diet containing whole cow's milk on infants' infectious and allergic morbidity. Methods: The health status of 1158 term infants aged from 10 to 12 months has been evaluated in a cross-sectional study. 612 of them (53%) received whole cow's milk as a complementary feeding product (cow's milk group) and 546 (47+) were not (control group). During the study period serial physical assessments, medical record reviews have been performed and special questionnaire has been used. The incidences of intestinal, respiratory tract infections and any allergic manifestations were compared between the groups. Results: The groups were not different in terms of age and growth parameters at evaluation. The average period of breastfeeding in infants from the control group was significantly longer than in infants who received whole cow's milk (6,4 ± 3,3 months vs. 4,98 ± 2,58 months; p< 0,0001). In comparison with the control group infants fed with cow's milk had reliably higher incidences of intestinal (adjusted for breastfeeding duration OR 2,021; 95% CI 1,56- 2,62) and respiratory infections (adjusted OR 1,43; 95% CI 1,12-1,84) as well as the higher risk for any allergic reactions (adjusted OR 1,89; 95% CI 1,42- 2,51). Conclusions: Our data suggest that feeding with whole cow's milk during the first year of life could increase infants' infectious and allergic morbidity.