Opportunities for primary prevention of allergy in infants due to the introduction of hypoallergenic complementary feeding products

Abstract

Background. To evaluate the tolerability of the industrial complementary feeding products (grain, fruit and vegetables, meat-based) in healthy children and children at high risk of allergies developing. Methods. The study included 90 children aged 4-6 months with breastfeeding, mixed or artificial feeding, who had not received any complementary food before. The children were healthy or had a high risk for development of allergic disease. Complementary foods (porridge, vegetables, meat and fruits) were administered based on an individual plan depending on age, nutritional status and nature of feces. Tolerability of products, dynamics of weight and height and laboratory parameters were evaluated. At the beginning and at the end of the study, capillary blood was taken to determine the specific IgE (sIgE) to the proteins of cow’s and goat milk, apples, pears, prunes, zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, rice, maize, buckwheat, turkey meat, and rabbit meat (quantitative allergy diagnostics using an express method). In addition, a scatological study was performed. Results. The level of specific IgE to food allergens in all children under the study was within normal range (0-135 IU/ml) both initially and after the administration of all studied complementary foods. Conclusion. The investigated complementary foods have a low sensitizing potential, including children with a high risk for development of allergic disease. This allows us to describe the industrial complementary feeding products as hypoallergenic.