ALLERGIA ALLE PROTEINE DEL LATTE VACCINO E IMPIEGO DELLE FORMULE SOSTITUTIVE. IMPATTO SULLA CRESCITA E PROFILO PLASMATICO DELLE PROTEINE.

Background: Extensively hydrolyzed formula (eHF) is the first-line therapy in cow’s milk protein allergy. Aims of the study: We studied growth and plasmatic protein profile, depending on the different formula employed. Materials and methods: We selected 40 children with cow’s milk protein allergy. Diagnosis was made by skin prick test and double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge. Children were fed with soya protein-based or hydrolyzed rice protein-based or extensively hydrolyzed casein formula. The sample was analyzed at the 6th (t0) and 12th (t1) months of life: anthropometric parameters, plasmatic levels of total proteins, albumin, prealbumin, and retinol binding protein were collected. Results: The comparison among the groups fed with the different formulas didn’t show a gap of weight z-score, length z-score and BMI z- score at t0 and t1. We found a positive trend of growth in children fed with rice protein-based formula. The plasmatic protein profiles among the three groups weren’t statistically different (p<0,05). The mean of plasmatic level of pre-albumin of the two groups fed with eHF is higher than the one of the group fed with soya protein-based formula, especially rice protein-based formula at t0. Conclusions: Children fed with eHF show a positive trend of weight z-score rise. So hydrolyzed proteins could give a nutritional qualitative benefit. Each formula ensures a good growth, but no one is the best, in spite of a positive trend of eHF, especially the rice-based one.