A review of studies indicates that hydrolyzed casein or whey formulas, used when breast milk is inadequately produced, may help prevent at-risk infants from developing allergies.
Treat and Prevent Food Allergies
Food allergies seem to be on the rise among young children and infants, especially in developed countries. Many children outgrow food allergies, but those who do not often have severe, even life-threatening, reactions.
Hydrolysate formulas were developed as an alternative to formulas with intact milk or soy proteins, in order to treat infants with food allergies to those substances. They are now also used to prevent allergic disease in high-risk infants.
Comparison with Cow's Milk and Soy
For the review, researchers examined more than 20 studies comparing hydrolyzed formulas to breastfeeding, cow's milk, soy-based formulas, or some combination of these products. In most cases, high-risk infants who consumed extensively hydrolyzed casein formulas or partially hydrolyzed whey formulas had a lower rate of food allergy for up to five years after birth than did those fed cow's milk-based formulas.
In addition, none of the studies found an increased risk of allergy among infants fed any type of hydrolyzed formula.
Partially hydrolyzed whey formulas tend to be cheaper than casein-based formulas, and also have a taste closer to that of cow milk formula.
Breast Milk Still Best
Children with allergies could, however, potentially still react to partially hydrolyzed formulas, and families with a history of allergy should, first and foremost, consider breastfeeding infants for the first 12 months after birth if it is at all possible.
Breast milk is by far the best option for nearly all babies. All other choices are inferior replacements. Soy formula in particular is an utter disaster and should never be used for children.
I rarely use the term never, but I do believe it is appropriate here unless that is the only food available and not using it means the child will die. Fortunately, this is an exceedingly rare event as nearly all children will have access to healthier options.
Among many other problems, a child receiving soy formula will receive the hormone equivalent of three birth controls per day, as the phytoestrogens in the soy will stimulate hormone receptors.
However, if breast milk is for some reason impossible, hydrolyzed whey protein formula does offer advantages over other kinds. Not only will it help to both avoid and prevent food allergy problems, but using whey-based formulas may also help to reduce crying in colicky infants, according to a study I ran five years ago.
If you're curious about the benefits of whey, you may want to read more about Whey Healthier, one of the most exciting food products featured in our Web store.
While Whey Healthier is not designed as an infant formula and should not be used by itself as a complete food for infants, it could be easily modified with the Infant Formula Fortification Protocol. Since this alternative is based on real whole foods, the only food healthier for your child would be the gold standard -- human breast milk.
Breast milk is clearly the best and you should ideally strive to provide this perfect food to your child until he or she is able to transition to solid foods.