Serum and Saliva Ig‐levels in Infants of Non‐Atopic Mothers Fed Breast Milk or Cow's Milk‐based Formulas

Abstract

Of 25 healthy, full term infants without a family history of atopic diseases, 13 were exclusively breast-fed from birth for a minimum of 3 1/2 mo. (median 4 1/2 mo.), whereas the remaining 12 infants were fed with cow''s milk-based formulas from birth for a minimum of 4 mo. In the latter group of children a significant increase in serum IgE as well as in salivary IgA was found. In infants exclusively breast-fed, no increase in serum IgE was seen until 6 mo. of age; at 9 mo. of age, salivary IgA was still significantly lower than in the infants fed cow''s milk-based formulas. No children developed obvious allergic diseases during the first 3 yr of life. Thus, cow''s milk proteins given to newborn children of non-atopic mothers did not seem to increase the risk of IgE-mediated diseases, may be due to the development of "blocking" IgA-antibodies in the alimentary tract.