Effects of short-term intervention of hypoallergenic formulas on outcome of food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis in breastfed infants

ZHANG Jiyong; ZENG Yongmei; HE Haobing; LI Weiyan; QIU Xiaoying; WANG Yuanyuan; CHEN Youyan; ZENG Fanfei

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1674-3806.2025.03.04

Abstract：Objective To explore the effects of short-term intervention of hypoallergenic formulas(HFs)on the relief of clinical symptoms,immune tolerance,growth and development in breastfed infants with food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis(FPIAP).Methods A total of 67 infants aged 29 days to 6 months who were diagnosed with FPIAP and were mainly breast-fed at Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital,Southern Medical University from January 1,2021 to August 31,2022 were selected.According to dietary restrictions,these infants were divided into hypoallergenic formula group[Breastfeeding was suspended and after 2 weeks of replacing breast milk with amino acid formula(AAF)or extensively hydrolyzed formula,breastfeeding was gradually resumed,43 cases]and breastfeeding group(Breastfeeding was continued with maternal food-avoidance diets,24 cases).The clinical symptom remission after 1 month and 3 months of the feeding,the rates of allergy to complementary foods at the age of 6 to 8 months,and immune tolerance,growth and development at the age of 12 months were compared between the two groups.Results The rates of clinical symptom remission after interventions for 1 month and 3 months in the hypoallergenic formula group were significantly higher than those in the breastfeeding group(90.70％ vs 50.00％,97.67％ vs 62.50％,P＜0.05).There were no significant differences in the rates of allergy to complementary foods between the two groups(P＞0.05).At the age of 12 months,the proportion of infants acquiring immune tolerance in the hypoallergenic formula group was significantly higher than that in the breastfeeding group(57.58％ vs 20.00％,P＜0.05).There were no significant differences in body weight,body length,head circumference and their growth between the two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion The short-term intervention of HFs can promote symptom relief without affecting the resumption of breastfeeding and without affecting long-term growth and development in infants and is beneficial for immune tolerance.Whether to use this method can be determined by the severity of symptoms,the caregiver's anxiety level and other factors.