Cow's milk IgE and IgG antibody responses to cow's milk formulas

For comparison of the antigenicity and allergenicity of three cow's milk fo rmulas, serum IgE antibodies to cow's milk, beta-lactoglobulin and casein, and IgG antibodies to beta-lactoglobulin were analyzed in 94 infants with a family history of allergy. They were participating in a randomized trial c omparing the allergy prophylactic effect of feeding an extensively hydrolyz ed (N), a partially hydrolyzed (PH), and a regular cow's milk formula (RM). Only infants who had been formula-fed for 3 months or more were included. IgE antibodies to cow's milk proteins were more common in the RM group (22/ 34) than in the N (2/31) and PH groups (3/29). There was a strong correlati on between sensitization to cow's milk and beta-lactoglobulin (r(s) = 0.85, P < 0.001). The IgG responses to beta-lactoglobulin were low in the N grou p, intermediate in the PH group, and high in the RM group. High responses, as well as detection of IgE antibodies, were associated with development of atopic disease. The low antigenicity and allergenicity of the extensively hydrolyzed formula support its use in allergy prophylaxis. The partial hydr olysate seemed to be less suitable for this purpose.