Effect of combined maternal and infant food-allergen avoidance on development of atopy in early infancy: a randomized study. Improved general health status in an unselected infant population following an allergen reduced dietary intervention programme The ZUFF-STUDY-PROGRAMME
Part I: study design and 6-month nutritional behaviour
 Maternal compliance with nutritional recommendations in an allergy preventive programme Introduction of Complementary Foods and the Relationship to Food Allergy Effects of a dietary and environmental prevention programme on the incidence of allergic symptoms in high atopic risk infants: three years follow‐up Influence of dietary manipulation on incidence of atopic disease in infants at risk. Preventing food allergy: protocol for a rapid systematic review Introduction of Complementary Foods and the Relationship to Food Allergy Comparison of Breast, Cow, and Soy Feedings in the Prevention of Onset of Allergic Disease The immunological and long-term atopic outcome of infants born to women following a milk-free diet during late pregnancy and lactation: a pilot study. Allergy prevention by maternal elimination diet during late pregnancy--a 5-year follow-up of a randomized study. Improved general health status in an unselected infant population following an allergen-reduced dietary intervention programme: the ZUFF-STUDY-PROGRAMME
Part II: infant growth and health status to age 6 months Home and videotape intervention delays early complementary feeding among adolescent mothers. Breast feeding and allergic diseases in infants—a prospective birth cohort study Prospective study on the atopy preventive effect of maternal avoidance of milk and eggs during pregnancy and lactation Maternal dietary counseling reduces consumption of energy-dense foods among infants: a randomized controlled trial. Maternal dietary antigen avoidance during pregnancy or lactation, or both, for preventing or treating atopic disease in the child.
The effect of maternal and infant avoidance of allergenic foods on food allergy was examined in a prenatally r and omized , controlled trial of infants of atopic parents . The diet of the prophylactic-treated group ( N = 103 ) included ( 1 ) maternal avoidance of cow 's milk , egg , and peanut during the third trimester of pregnancy and lactation and ( 2 ) infant use of casein hydrolysate ( Nutramigen ) for supplementation or weaning , and avoidance of solid foods for 6 months ; cow 's milk , corn , soy , citrus , and wheat , for 12 months ; and egg , peanut , and fish , for 24 months . In the control group ( N = 185 ) , mothers had unrestricted diets , and infants followed American Academy of Pediatrics feeding guidelines . The cumulative prevalence of atopy was lower at 12 months in the prophylactic-treated ( 16.2 % ) compared to the control ( 27.1 % ) group ( p = 0.039 ) , result ing from reduced food-associated atopic dermatitis , urticaria and /or gastrointestinal disease by 12 months ( 5.1 % versus 16.4 % ; p = 0.007 ) , and any positive food skin test by 24 months ( 16.5 % versus 29.4 % ; p = 0.019 ) , caused primarily by fewer positive milk skin tests ( 1 % versus 12.4 % ; p = 0.001 ) . The prevalences of allergic rhinitis , asthma , and inhalant skin tests were unaffected . Serum IgE levels in the prophylactic-treated group were marginally lower only at 4 months . Thus , reduced exposure of infants to allergenic foods appeared to reduce food sensitization and allergy primarily during the first year of life Summary Background : The best nutritional option for newborn infants is mother 's milk . However , some newborn babies may not be exlusively breastfed during the first months of life , potentially leading to reduced overall health status and the early onset of allergic diseases in some infants . Considerable research has been devoted to the development and assessment of infant nutrition programmes , particularly to the prevention of allergies in high-risk infants . However , equal numbers of infants with and without an elevated familial risk of allergies will eventually develop allergic diseases . Therefore , optimizing nutritional programmes for the early infant population as a whole is an important – but as yet insufficiently studied – area of investigation . Moreover , although safe and effective nutrition must primarily support healthy development of the infant , few studies have evaluated the overall health benefits of nutritional interventions , but have focussed on specific allergic manifestations . In animal models , an allergen-reduced moderate whey hydrolysate formula ( pHF , Nestlé Beba HA ) induces the development of oral tolerance towards cow 's milk proteins , without inducing sensitization . In infants with a high risk for allergies , pHF formulae reduce the early onset of allergic disease during the first 5 years of life by approximately 50 % compared with a dietary regimen of unaltered proteins . At present , very little is known about the overall health benefits of such a dietary intervention on the unselected infant population as a whole . Aim of the study : The aim of our prospect i ve , controlled study was to investigate the overall health benefits of an allergen-reduced nutritional programme in a newborn infant population unselected for atopic risk factors . The population in our study was a comparable as possible to the general population of healthy newborn infants . Our study included exclusive breastfeeding , use of a moderate whey hydrolysate formula ( pHF , Nestlé Beba HA ) if infant formula was needed , and delayed introduction of low-allergenic weaning foods . The study included assessment s of compliance with the dietary programme , and evaluated nutritional habits , growth , and overall health status for 24 months . The health evaluation included allergic manifestations but die – by purpose – not define or evaluate them specifically . Part I of this paper gives results for nutritional habits during the first 6 months of life , Part II gives results for growth and general health status for the same time period , Part III will present feeding habits during the second half of the first year of life , and Part IV will present results to 24 months of age . The complete study report is published as a supplement to this journal . Methods : Nuritional assignment was to demographically comparable intervention ( Z ) or control ( FF ) cohorts according to the infant 's place of birth . In the intervention cohort ( Z , n=564 ) , the recommended dietary regimen was breastfeeding and /or the pHF formula , with no weaning food before 4 months of age . In the control cohort ( FF , n=566 ) , there was no intervention . Longitudinal diet groups , defined for 4 months , excluding dropouts and noncompliants , were exclusive breastfeeding ( eBF , Z , n=201 , FF , n=162 ) , partial breastfeeding ( pBF , Z , n=222 , FF , n=311 ) , or non-breastfeeding ( nBF , Z , n=42 , FF , n=62 ) . Imbalances between groups and cohorts in confounding factors that could influence health-related symptoms were integrated as covariates into the main analyses using logistic regression . Nutritional surveillance was carried out using continuous prospect i ve monitoring . Results : The overall rate of breastfeeding , irrespective of partial or excluive breastfeeding or the additional use of weaning foods , was similar in both cohorts at 4 and 6 months . However , from ages 3 to 6 month , significantly more Z than FF infants were excluively breastfed ( p<0.05 ) , and weaning foods were introduced at a significantly later age in Z than FF ( 22 versus 18 weeks ; p<0.0001 ) . Infants in the Z cohort received fewer different kinds of weaning foods compared with FF ( 2 versus 10 ; p<0.0001 ) . Six-month rates of dropout were very low in both groups ( Z=4.3 % , FF=1.8 % ) and compliance with the programme was excellent over the strict intervention period of 4 months ( Z=86.9 % ) until the sixth month . Conclusions : A dietary recommendation that promotes breastfeeding , includes a moderate whey hydrolysate formula ( Nestlé Beba HA ) , and delays the introduction of highly allergenic weaning foods ( an allergen-reduced dietary regimen ) significantly increases breastfeeding and delays weaning in a normal infant population without any compliance problem to the moderate hydroysate formula that is quite often seen in the eHF . The regimen was followed closely , with a high degree of compliance and a low dropout rate compared with previous allergy-prevention studies . Compliance with the dietary regimen was excellent over the 4 months of intervention and throughout the following 2 months Aims : To assess maternal compliance with nutritional recommendations in an allergy preventive programme , and identify factors influencing compliance behaviour . Methods : R and omised double-blind intervention study on the effect of infant formulas with reduced allergenicity in healthy , term newborns at risk of atopy . Maternal compliance with dietary recommendations concerning milk and solid food feeding was categorised . Results : A total of 2252 newborns were r and omised to one of four study formulas . The drop out rate during the first year of life was 13.5 % ( n = 304 ) . The rates of high , medium , and low compliance to milk feeding during weeks 1–16 were 83.4 % , 4.0 % , and 7.5 % ; the corresponding rates to solid food feeding during weeks 1–24 were 60.0 % , 12.1 % , and 22.9 % . In 5.1 % of subjects no nutritional information was available . Low compliance was more frequent among non-German parents , parents with a low level of education , young mothers , smoking mothers , and those who weaned their infant before the age of 2 months . Conclusions : Evaluation of allergy preventive programmes should take into account non-compliance for assessing the preventive effectiveness on study outcome OBJECTIVES : To address questions regarding breastfeeding , complementary feeding , allergy development , and current infant-feeding recommendations . METHODS : This was a nested , case-control within a cohort study in which mothers of 41 infants diagnosed with food allergy by the age of 2 years ( according to double-blind , placebo-controlled food challenge ) and their 82 age-matched controls kept prospect i ve food diaries of how their infants were fed in the first year of life . RESULTS : Infants who were diagnosed with food allergy by the time they were 2 years of age were introduced to solids earlier ( ≤16 weeks of age ) and were less likely to be receiving breast milk when cow ’s milk protein was first introduced into their diet . CONCLUSIONS : This study supports the current American Academy of Pediatrics ’ allergy prevention recommendations and the European Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology , Hepatology and Nutrition recommendations on complementary feeding to not introduce solids before 4 to 6 months of age . It also supports the American Academy of Pediatrics ’ breastfeeding recommendations that breastfeeding should continue while solids are introduced into the diet and that breastfeeding should continue for 1 year , or longer , as mutually desired by mother and infant ABSTRACT A prospect i ve case‐control study is presented to assess an allergy prevention programme in children up to 36 months of age . Infants born at three maternity hospitals were followed from birth : 279 infants with high atopic risk ( intervention group ) were compared with 80 infants with similar atopic risk but no intervention ( non‐intervention group ) . The intervention programme included dietary measures ( exclusive and prolonged milk feeding diet followed by a hypoantigenic weaning diet ) and environmental measures ( avoidance of parental smoking in the presence of the babies , day care > 2 years of life ) . Mothers in this group who had insufficient breast milk were r and omly assigned to one of two coded formulas : either a hydrolysed milk formula ( Nidina HA , Nestlé ) or a conventional adapted formula ( Nan , Nestlé ) . Other environmental measures remained the same as for the breastfeeding mothers . The non‐intervention group were either breastfed or received the usual Italian milk feeding and weaning diet , without environmental advice . The main outcome measures were anthropometric measurements and allergic disease manifestations . Normal anthropometric data were observed both in the intervention group and in the nonintervention group . The incidence of allergic manifestations was much lower in the intervention group than in the nonintervention group at 1 year ( 11.5 versus 54.4 % , respectively ) and at 2 years ( 14.9 versus 65.6 % ) and 3 years ( 20.6 versus 74.1 % ) . Atopic dermatitis and recurrent wheezing were found in both the intervention group and the non‐intervention group from birth up to the second year of life , while urticaria and gastrointestinal disorders were only present in the non‐intervention group in the first year of life . Conjunctivitis and rhinitis were present after the second year in both the intervention group and the non‐intervention group . Relapse of the same allergic symptom was less in the intervention group ( 13.0 % ) than in the non‐intervention group ( 36.9 % ) . In comparison to the non‐intervention group , there were fewer intervention group cases with two or more different allergic symptoms ( 8.7 versus 32.6 % ) , and they were more likely to avoid steroid treatment ( 0 versus 10.8 % ) and hospital admission ( 0 versus 6.5 % ) . Babies in the non‐intervention group fed with adapted formula were more likely to develop allergies than breastfed babies in the same group . In the intervention group the breastfed infants had the lowest incidence of allergic symptoms , followed by the infants fed the hydrolysed formula ( ns ) . Infants in the intervention group fed the adapted formula had significantly more allergies than the breastfed and hydrolysed milk fed infants , although less than their counterparts in the non‐intervention group . Of the affected subjects in the intervention group , 80.4 % were RAST and /or Prick positive to food or inhalant allergens . Total serum IgE values detected at birth in the intervention group were not predictive , but at 1 and 2 years of age , IgE values more than 2 SD above the mean in asymptomatic babies were found to predictive for later allergy . In breastfed babies the total IgE level at 1 and 2 years of age was lower than in the other two feeding groups . Of the various factors tested in the non‐intervention group , the following were the most important in the pathogenesis of allergic symptoms : ( i ) formula implementation begun in the first week of life ; ( ii ) early weaning ( < 4 months ) ; ( iii ) feeding beef ( < 6 months ) ; ( iv ) early introduction of cow 's milk ( < 6 months ) ; and ( v ) parental smoking in the presence of the babies and early day care admission ( < 2 years of life ) . All the preventive measures used in this study ( exclusive breastfeeding and /or hydrolysed milk feeding , delayed and selective introduction of solid foods , and environmental advice ) were effective at the third year of follow‐up , greatly reducing allergic manifestations in high atopic risk babies in comparison with those not receiving these interventions Of 5,500 newborn infants whose family histories were screened , 900 were found to have anamnestic risk .  Cord-blood IgE was evaluable in 4,677 of these newborns , of which 394 had levels > or = 1 IU/mL ; 84 infants had both anamnestic risk and elevated cord-blood IgE levels . Parents of infants with anamnestic risk were informed of their child 's risk of atopy . Additionally , for 391 infants at two of the three participating hospitals , a preventive diet was prescribed that recommended breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life , with maternal diet restricted to no more than 200 dL of cow milk per day , no more than one egg per week , and no tomato , fish , shellfish , nuts , or foods allergenic to the mother . Only soy formula was recommended , and introduction of solid foods was also carefully prescribed . Furthermore , doctors recommended against exposure to tobacco smoke , animal allergens , and early entrance into daycare . Evaluable infants whose parents complied with the prescribed diet were found to have a lower incidence of atopy during the first year of life ( 13.3 % , n = 158 ) than infants whose parents had ignored the prescribed diet ( 54.7 % , n = 86 ) or infants whose parents were offered no dietary recommendations ( 28.9 % , n = 218 ) . Differences between the compliant group and the two groups with unrestricted diets were significant , indicating that this prescribed diet may protect against or delay onset of food allergies during the first year of life Background The European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology is developing guidelines about how to prevent and manage food allergy . As part of the guidelines development process , a systematic review is planned to examine published research about the prevention of food allergy . This systematic review is one of seven inter-linked evidence syntheses that are being undertaken in order to provide a state-of-the-art synopsis of the current evidence base in relation to epidemiology , prevention , diagnosis and clinical management , and impact on quality of life , which will be used to inform clinical recommendations . The aim of this systematic review will be to assess the effectiveness of approaches for the primary prevention of food allergy . Methods Seven bibliographic data bases will be search ed from their inception to September 30 , 2012 for systematic review s , r and omized controlled trials , quasi-r and omized controlled trials , controlled clinical trials , controlled before- and -after studies , interrupted time series and cohort studies . Cohort studies will be included due to an inability to r and omize with interventions such as breastfeeding . Studies that focused on the development of either food sensitization ( a proxy measure ) or food allergy will also be eligible for inclusion . Studies will be critically appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program and Cochrane Risk of Bias tools , as appropriate . Discussion There is a lack of rigorous evidence to support recommendations about how to prevent the development of food allergy . It would appear that it is important to see the prevention of food allergy in the context of individual , family and wider factors that may influence its development . There is much left to learn about preventing food allergy , and this is a priority given the high societal and healthcare costs involved . This systematic review will help to further this learning KE Grimshaw , J Maskell , EM Oliver . Pediatrics . 2013;132(6 ) . Available at : www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/132/6/e1529 The study analyzed the significance of complementary feeding and breastfeeding in association with allergy development . This study was a nested case-control trial of 41 infants with food allergy diagnosed by age 2 years and 82 matched controls within a cohort study involving 1140 infants . The infants ’ food allergies were confirmed by using double-blind , placebo-controlled food challenges , the gold st and ard for diagnosing food allergies . Infants with food allergies were recruited from the PIFA ( Prevalence of Infant Food Allergy ) study in the United Kingdom . Parents kept prospect i ve daily food diaries and It has been reported that the feeding of cow 's milk may enhance the development of atopy in predisposed infants . A prospect i ve study following children from birth through 15 years of age in a private pediatric practice was design ed to determine if the food ingested during the first months of life is related to the development of atopy in the offspring of allergic families . Each of 328 children with a positive family history of allergy was assigned to one of three groups . according to the feeding preference of the parents : 48 were fed breast milk ; 79 , soy-based formula ; and 201 , cow 's milk formula . All groups had egg , citrus , tomato , and wheat restrictions as well as inhalant allergen avoidance . These were compared to a control group of 580 children with no family history of allergy . Breast fed infants were found to have approximately one-half the incidence of atopy of cow 's milk or soy formula fed infants from atopic families when followed for up to 15 years . Soy feeding produced no advantage over cow 's milk in the prophylaxis of allergic disease . There was a threefold increase in clinical ly apparent atopic disease in offspring of allergic families when compared to controls but only a two-fold increase if the infant was breast fed . These results support the hypothesis that breast feeding and delay of exposure to known allergens may reduce the frequency of clinical allergic disease in the offspring of allergic families Infants born to atopic parents have been found to be at high risk of allergy development . The present study investigated the effect of a maternal milk-free diet during late pregnancy and lactation on the immune response and allergy incidence in at-risk and control infants . Atopic mothers were r and omly allocated into an intervention group ( n 12 ) or an unrestricted-diet group ( n14 ) and compared with  non-atopic mothers following an unrestricted diet ( n 12 ) . The intervention involved a maternal milk-free diet during late pregnancy and lactation . Infants were followed up for 18 months postnatally . A significant fall in maternal serum beta-lactoglobulin (beta-Lg)-immunoglobulin G ( IgG ) antibody levels ( P < 0.05 ) was observed after a 7-week milk-exclusion diet . In maternal and cord serum sample s the levels of beta-Lg-IgG and alpha-casein-IgG antibodies were significantly correlated ( r 0.89 , P < 0.0001 and r 0.71 , P < 0.001 respectively ) . Higher levels of beta-Lg-IgG ( P < 0.05 ) were observed in the cord serum sample s compared with paired maternal serum sample s. Single-blind allergy assessment by a paediatrician at 12 and 18 months showed that the infants born in the non-atopic group had a significantly lower allergy incidence compared with the infants born in the atopic group following an unrestricted diet ( P < 0.008 and P < 0.02 respectively ) . The allergy incidence in the infants born in the atopic diet group was significantly lower compared with that of the atopic group following an unrestricted diet ( P < 0.04 ) . It was observed that the atopic nature of the parents significantly affected the allergy incidence in their children . A trend towards a beneficial effect of a maternal milk-free diet during late pregnancy and lactation was also observed in infants born to atopic parents The 209 mothers to be , enrolled in a r and omized , prospect i ve , allergy-prevention study from allergy-prone families , totally abstained from cow 's milk and egg  from gestational week 28 to delivery . This article presents the development of allergic disease at 5 years of age in their children , compared with the development of allergic disease in the children of the control mothers who took normal food throughout pregnancy . The prevalence of allergic disease could be evaluated in 198 children ( 95 % ) .  Allergic disease was monitored with  question naires , skin prick testing , serum-IgE determinations , and physical examination . Eczema , allergic rhinoconjunctivitis , and asthma was equally common in the groups . Persistent food intolerance to egg was significantly more common in children of the mothers receiving the diet . This long-term follow-up confirms our previous findings that maternal elimination diet during late pregnancy does not prevent the development of allergic disease in the genetically predisposed child Summary Aim of the study . An allergen-reduced dietary intervention programme with strict dietary requirements was implemented over the first four months of life in an unselected population -based infant cohort and compared to a non-intervention cohort ( the ZUFF study ) . Recommendations for the dietary programme in the intervention cohort were extended , but not strictly implemented , until the end of month six . The intervention was based on breastfeeding , a moderate whey hydrolysate formula ( pHF ) , and delayed introduction of weaning foods with a high allergenicity . This study was a prospect i ve , controlled , and unblinded study , the first to assess the effects of an allergen-reduced , pHF-based early nutritional programme in a broad unselected infant population . Because overall healthy development of the infant is a major objective of any nutritional programme , the study evaluated the effects of the dietary intervention on infant growth and general health status rather than specific allergic manifestations . Part I of this paper gave results for nutritional behaviour only , and Part II gives results for growth and general health status during the intervention period through the sixth month of life . Methods . Assignment of study infants was to demographically comparable intervention ( Z ) or control ( FF ) cohorts according to place of birth . In the intervention cohort ( Z=564 ) , the recommended dietary regimen was breastfeeding and – if exclusive breastfeeding was not possible – supplementation with a moderately hydrolysed , allergen-reduced infant formula ( pHF ) . Weaning foods were delayed until four months of age or later in case of weaning foods with high allergenicity . In the control cohort ( FF=566 ) , there was no specific intervention . Imbalances between cohorts in confounding ( adjuvant ) factors that could influence health related outcomes were integrated as covariates into the logistic regression of the main analyses . Growth parameters included weight , length , head circumference , BMI , and Z scores ( SDS ) . General health status was assessed by clinical ly significant findings in gastrointestinal , respiratory , or skin symptoms . Results . Growth at 6 weeks and at 3 and 6 months was similar for Z and FF . Significantly fewer Z than FF infants had clinical ly noteworthy health findings at 3 months ( Z=27 % versus FF=37 % , odds ratio=0.63 , CI=0.48–0.82 ) and 6 months ( Z=33 % versus FF=49 % , odds ratio=0.51 , CI=0.40–0.66 ) . This corresponds to a 30 % reduction in overall health concerns at 6 months for the intervention cohort . At 3 and 6 months , differences between cohorts in most measures of general health status were strongly influenced by a lower incidence of skin symptoms in the Z cohort . Within FF , there were fewer exclusively breastfed ( eBF ) infants with health problems at 3 months compared with those who were partially ( pBF ) or non-breastfed ( nBF ) ( eBF=31 % , pBF=40 % , nBF=39 % , p<0.05 ) . In contrast , in the Z intervention cohort , the number of infants with health concerns was similar for exclusively breastfed infants and for those in whom mother 's milk was supplemented or replaced by pHF ( eBF=29 % , pBF=25 % , nBF=26 % , ns ) . In a sub analysis of overall health findings in infants without a family risk of allergies , there were again significantly fewer Z than FF infants with any health or any skin problem . Conclusion .An allergen-reduced dietary recommendation that includes a moderate whey hydrolysate infant formula ( pHF ) has no negative effects on growth parameters up to 6 months of life in an infant population unselected for atopic risk . The dietary intervention produced improvements in general health status when compared with a control cohort that received infant formula with unhydrolysed proteins ( IF ) , and high allergenic weaning foods at an earlier age . The difference between cohorts was principally due to fewer adverse skin findings . In infants following our allergen-reduced feeding recommendation , 3-month general health status was comparable between those who were exclusively breastfed and those in whom breastfeeding was supplemented or replaced by pHF . Our results demonstrate that a pHF feeding recommendation during the first 4 to 6 months of life – when exclusive breestfeeding is not possible – is a safe and feasible regimen not only in high-allergic risk population s but in general unselected infant population . The general use of pHF formula in non- or partly breastfed infants could therefore be considered an important contribution to optimised infant nutrition BACKGROUND The American Academy of Pediatrics , the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women , Infants , and Children ( WIC ) , and the World Health Organization recommend that infants receive only breast milk or formula for the first 4 to 6 months of life , followed by the introduction of complementary foods . Despite these recommendations , many infants , particularly those with adolescent mothers , receive solid foods ( often cereal mixed with formula in a bottle ) and liquids other than formula or breast milk in the first few weeks of life . Decisions on early feeding are often guided by gr and mothers and influenced by beliefs that infants need complementary food to counteract signals of hunger , reduce crying , and sleep through the night . OBJECTIVE This investigation evaluated the efficacy of an intervention to delay the early introduction of complementary feeding among first-time , black , adolescent mothers living in multigenerational households . The intervention focused on reducing the cultural barriers to the acceptance of the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics , WIC , and World Health Organization on complementary feeding by highlighting 3 topics : 1 ) recognition of infants ' cues ; 2 ) nonfood strategies for managing infant behavior ; and 3 ) mother-gr and mother negotiation strategies . The intervention was delivered through a mentorship model in which a videotape made by an advisory group of black adolescent mothers was incorporated into a home-visiting program and evaluated through a r and omized , controlled trial . METHODS One hundred eighty-one first-time , low-income , black mothers < 18 years old , living in multigenerational households were recruited from 3 urban hospitals . Infants were born at term , with birth weight appropriate for gestational age and no congenital problems . Shortly after delivery , mothers and gr and mothers completed a baseline assessment and mothers were r and omized into an intervention or control group . Intervention group mothers received home visitation every other week for 1 year . At 3 months , a subset of 121 adolescent mothers reported on their infant 's intake through a food frequency question naire . Mothers who fed their infant only breast milk , formula , or water were classified as optimal feeders . Mothers who provided complementary foods other than breast milk , formula , or water were classified as less optimal feeders . RESULTS Sixty-one percent of the infants received complementary foods before 3 months old . Multivariate hierarchical logistic regression was used to evaluate the determinants of being in the optimal versus less optimal feeders group . After controlling for infant age and family income , mothers of infants in the optimal feeders group were more likely to report accurate messages from WIC regarding the timing of complementary food and nearly 4 times more likely to be in the intervention group . The most common complementary food was cereal mixed with formula in the bottle . CONCLUSIONS The success of this relatively brief intervention demonstrates the importance of using ecological theory and ethnographic research to design interventions that enable participants to alter their behavior in the face of contradictory cultural norms . The intervention focused on interpreting infants ' cues , nonfood methods of managing infant behavior , and mother-gr and mother negotiations . It was delivered through methods that were familiar and acceptable to adolescent mothers-a mentorship model incorporating home visits and videotape . The skill-oriented aspects of the intervention delivered in a culturally sensitive context may have enabled the young mothers to follow the guidelines that they received from WIC and from their pediatricians . Strategies , such as those used in this intervention , may be effective in promoting other caregiving recommendations , thereby enabling providers to meet the increasing dem and s from parents for advice regarding children 's early growth and development Aims : To investigate the effect of breast feeding on  allergic disease in infants up to 2 years of age . Methods : A birth cohort of 4089 infants was followed prospect ively in Stockholm , Sweden . Information about various exposures was obtained by parental question naires when the infants were 2 months old , and about allergic symptoms and feeding at 1 and 2 years of age . Duration of exclusive and partial breast feeding was assessed separately . Symptom related definitions of various allergic diseases were used . Odds ratios ( OR ) and 95 % confidence intervals ( CI ) were estimated in a multiple logistic regression model . Adjustments were made for potential confounders . Results : Children exclusively breast fed during four months or more exhibited less asthma ( 7.7 % v 12 % , ORadj = 0.7 , 95 % CI 0.5 to 0.8 ) , less atopic dermatitis ( 24 % v 27 % , ORadj = 0.8 , 95 % CI 0.7 to 1.0 ) , and less suspected allergic rhinitis ( 6.5 % v 9 % , ORadj = 0.7 , 95 % CI 0.5 to 1.0 ) by 2 years of age . There was a significant risk reduction for asthma related to partial breast feeding during six months or more ( ORadj = 0.7 , 95 % CI 0.5 to 0.9 ) . Three or more of five possible allergic disorders — asthma , suspected allergic rhinitis , atopic dermatitis , food allergy related symptoms , and suspected allergic respiratory symptoms after exposure to pets or pollen — were found in 6.5 % of the children . Exclusive breast feeding prevented children from having multiple allergic disease ( ORadj = 0.7 , 95 % CI 0.5 to 0.9 ) during the first two years of life . Conclusion : Exclusive breast feeding seems to have a preventive effect on the early development of allergic disease — that is , asthma , atopic dermatitis , and suspected allergic rhinitis , up to 2 years of age . This protective effect was also evident for multiple allergic disease Abstract The preventive effect of maternal avoidance of cow 's milk and eggs on the development of atopic dermatitis and sensitization to food allergens was studied in a prospect i ve trial with families at high risk for atopy . intervention included encouraging exclusive breast feeding for at least 3 months and delaying the controlled introduction of solid foods . In addition , one group received a maternal diet with the complete avoidance of milk and eggs in the last trimester of pregnancy and during the period of exclusive breast feeding , another group had the same diet starting after delivery , and mothers of the third group had no dietary restrictions . The period prevalences of atopic dermatitis as well as the rates of specific sensitization to eggs and milk at 6 and 12 months were not significantly different between groups . We were unable to demonstrate a significant preventive effect of maternal diet . Conclusion While breast feeding should be promoted for children at risk for atopy , mothers can be encouraged to stay on normal diet during pregnancy and the breast feeding period OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact of a dietary counseling in reducing the intake of energy-dense foods by infants . DESIGN A r and omized controlled trial . SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS São Leopoldo , Brazil . Mothers and infants of a low-income-group population were r and omized into  intervention ( n = 163 ) and received dietary counseling during 10 home visits , or control  ( n = 234 ) groups . MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES Child consumption of sugar-dense ( SD ) and lipid-dense ( LD ) foods at 12 to 16 months . ANALYSIS The effect of the intervention was expressed by relative risks and 95 % confidence intervals . Poisson regression analysis was used to determine the association between exclusive breastfeeding and the energy-dense foods intake . RESULTS A smaller proportion of infants from the intervention group consumed c and y , soft drinks , honey , cookies , chocolate , and salty snacks . In the intervention group , there was a reduction of 40 % and 50 % in the proportion of infants who consumed LD and SD foods , respectively . Being breastfed up to 6 months reduced the risk for consumption of LD and SD foods by 58 % and 67 % , respectively . CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATION S Dietary counseling to mothers may be effective in reducing the consumption of energy-dense foods among infants , and it is helpful in improving early dietary habits BACKGROUND Some breastfed infants with atopic eczema benefit from elimination of cow milk , egg , or other antigens from their mother 's diet . Maternal dietary antigens are also known to cross the placenta . OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of prescribing an antigen avoidance diet during pregnancy or lactation , or both , on maternal and infant nutrition and on the prevention or treatment of atopic disease in the child . SEARCH METHODS We search ed the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group 's Trials Register ( 6 July 2012 ) . SELECTION CRITERIA All r and omized or quasi-r and omized comparisons of maternal dietary antigen avoidance prescribed to pregnant or lactating women . We excluded trials of multimodal interventions that included manipulation of the infant 's diet other than breast milk or of non-dietary aspects of the infant 's environment . DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS We extracted data from published reports , supplemented by additional information received from the trialists we contacted . MAIN RESULTS The evidence from five trials , involving 952 participants , does not suggest a protective effect of maternal dietary antigen avoidance during pregnancy on the incidence of atopic eczema during the first 18 months of life . Data on allergic rhinitis or conjunctivitis , or both , and urticaria are limited to a single trial each and are insufficient to draw meaningful inferences . Longer-term atopic outcomes have not been reported . The restricted diet during pregnancy was associated with a slightly but statistically significantly lower mean gestational weight gain , a non-significantly higher risk of preterm birth , and a non-significant reduction in mean birthweight . The evidence from two trials , involving 523 participants , did not observe a significant protective effect of maternal antigen avoidance during lactation on the incidence of atopic eczema during the first 18 months or on positive skin-prick tests to cow milk , egg , or peanut antigen at one , two , or seven years . One crossover trial involving 17 lactating mothers of infants with established atopic eczema found that maternal dietary antigen avoidance was associated with a non-significant reduction in eczema severity . AUTHORS ' CONCLUSIONS Prescription of an antigen avoidance diet to a high-risk woman during pregnancy is unlikely to reduce substantially her child 's risk of atopic diseases , and such a diet may adversely affect maternal or fetal nutrition , or both . Prescription of an antigen avoidance diet to a high-risk woman during lactation may reduce her child 's risk of developing atopic eczema , but better trials are needed . Dietary antigen avoidance by lactating mothers of infants with atopic eczema may reduce the severity of the eczema , but larger trials are needed
Despite several intervention trials involving modifications to the maternal diet , the effect of maternal diet during pregnancy and lactation in preventing food allergy remains unclear .
Summary Earlier introduction of allergenic foods is a promising intervention to reduce the risk of some food allergies in high-risk infants .
Purpose of review In the past decade , food allergy has been increasingly recognized as an important public health issue .
The role of maternal and infant diet in the development of food allergy has been a major focus of research throughout this period .
Recently , research in this area has moved from observational studies to intervention trials , and the findings from these trials have started to influence infant feeding guidelines .
In this article , we review recent studies of dietary interventions for preventing food allergy , summarize current knowledge and discuss future research directions .