A Formula for Success

There's some good news for moms who can't breastfeed but whose babies might be genetically susceptible to allergies.  A new study in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology shows that hypoallergenic infant formuals may actually help lower the long-term risk of allergies.  The products are known as hydrolyzed formulas and most of the formual companies make them.  What are they and why might they help?  While they contain cow's milk proteins ( like normal formula), hyrolyzed products break down the proteins so they are less allergenic than whole proteins.

The new study, led by a  group of researchers in Germany, found that these formuals lower the risk of allergies for children at least up until age 6.  The study looked at more than two thousand children.  Each had at least one parent who suffered from allergies.

Most women want to breastfeed.  But exclusive breastfeeding is simply not always possible.  Sometimes it just doesn't work.  or sometimes the mother is ill and needs medicine that's incompatible with breastfeeding.  Others choose not to for reasons that make sense for them and their famlies.  Sometimes it's just a matter of needing to supplement breast milk.  For those whose children might have a genetic pre-determination towards allergies, these products are a formula for success.