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Hydrolyzed formulas might not protect against allergies after all
STATES CHRONICLE – Products get verified and have to pass many tests and meet many requirements, but there are still many labels out there that try to trick us. Some of them don’t mention the risks of consuming that said product, and others boast having effects they don’t actually have.
Such products can often be dangerous, and when it comes to the ones directed at children, the problem becomes even more concerning. There are several infant formulas claiming they protect kids from autoimmune disorders such as allergies, asthma or type 1 diabetes.
Learning that these formulas could protect their infant, many parents turn to them as alternatives. However, the latest research shows the “hydrolyzed” formulas don’t really have a protective role.
The study was conducted by a team of researchers at the Imperial College London. Despite the belief that hydrolyzed formula should be consumed by infants with a family history of allergies, the scientists didn’t manage to find the benefits of such formulas.
In other words, although the FDA approves of hydrolyzed formulas, it appears that data supporting these formulas is inconclusive and not compelling. And the FDA is not the only organization supporting these types of formula, but also agencies in Europe and Australia share their view.
In order to see whether hydrolyzed formulas work or not, the researchers put together data from 37 studies which included over 19,000 subjects. The studies were conducted from 1946 to 2015. It turned out that the infants fed with hydrolyzed milk did not show a lower risk of allergies, asthma or type 1 diabetes in comparison with the infants who consumes standard formula or human breast milk.
Since it appears that hydrolyzed cow milk does not fulfill its supposed role of protection against allergies and autoimmune disorders, it is recommended that both scientists and the FDA revisit the guidelines which made them support this type of formula in the past.
However, the formulas showed no side-effects, so they can be safely used in the future, except parents shouldn’t expect their children to be protected from allergies.
All in all, no matter how good formulas can be and how much they can offer, they will never compare to the advantages that breast milk brings. Therefore, mothers should take into consideration breastfeeding and that for as long as possible.
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