Long-term effects of hydrolyzed protein infant formulas on growth--extended follow-up to 10 y of age: results from the German Infant Nutritional Intervention (GINI) study.

Background: Previous analysis in a prospective, population-based cohort reported reduced weight gain in children fed extensively hydrolyzed casein (eHF-C) formula during the first year of life but showed no effect on growth between 1 and 6 y of life. No studies have been conducted in children up to the age of 10 y.

Objective: The objective was to investigate potential differences in body mass index (BMI) over the first 10 y of life between infants fed within the intervention period of the first 16 wk of life with partially hydrolyzed whey (pHF-W), extensively hydrolyzed whey (eHF-W), eHF-C, or cow-milk formula (CMF) and infants exclusively breastfed (BF) within the intervention period.

Growth of infants fed formula rich in canola oil (low erucic acid rapeseed oil).

Background & Aims: Canola oil is a variety of rapeseed oil low in erucic acid (<2%). For many years, canola oil has been widely used as an ingredient in infant formula in Europe, but not in North America due to safety concerns. A number of studies have used variable canola content of infant formulas to investigate the effects of linoleic acid: α-linolenic acid ratio on visual function of infants.

Impact of early feeding on childhood eczema: development after nutritional intervention compared with the natural course - the GINIplus study up to the age of 6 years.

Background: Nutritional intervention with hydrolysed infant formulas has been shown efficacious in preventing eczema in children predisposed to allergy. However, this preventive effect has never been related to the natural course of eczema in children with or without a family history of allergy. The aim of this study therefore was to compare the course of eczema in predisposed children after nutritional intervention to the natural course of eczema.

Short- and long-term effects of feeding hydrolyzed protein infant formulas on growth at < or = 6 y of age: results from the German Infant Nutritional Intervention Study.

Background: The short- and long-term effects of feeding with hydrolyzed formulas on growth are uncertain.

Objective: Our aim was to investigate the potential differences in body mass index (BMI) over the first 6 y of life between infants fed with partially hydrolyzed whey (pHF-W), extensively hydrolyzed whey (eHF-W), extensively hydrolyzed casein (eHF-C), or cow-milk formula (CMF) and infants exclusively breastfed for the first 16 wk of life.

Design: We established a prospective, randomized, double-blind trial of full-term neonates with atopic heredity in the German birth cohort followed by the German Infant Nutritional Intervention Study through the first 6 y of life.

Preventive effect of hydrolyzed infant formulas persists until age 6 years: long-term results from the German Infant Nutritional Intervention Study (GINI).

Background: The long-term effect of nutritional intervention with hydrolyzed infant formulas on allergy development has not been sufficiently evaluated.

Objective: We performed a follow-up of the German Infant Nutritional Intervention study until 6 years of life to investigate the long-term allergy-preventive effect of 3 hydrolyzed infant formulas compared with cow's milk formula (CMF) in a randomized, double-blind trial.

Methods: Between 1995 and 1998, 2252 newborns with atopic heredity were randomly assigned at birth to receive one of 4 blinded formulas: partially or extensively hydrolyzed whey formula, extensively hydrolyzed casein formula, or CMF as milk substitute for the first 4 months when breast-feeding was insufficient.

Safety and efficacy of a new extensively hydrolyzed formula for infants with cow's milk protein allergy.

Cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA) is best treated by complete elimination of cow's milk from the diet. For infants with CMPA who cannot be breast-fed, formulas based on extensively hydrolyzed proteins or on amino acids are the preferred substitutes for cow's milk-based formulas. In this study, we compared the tolerance and growth of infants with CMPA who were fed a new extensively hydrolyzed formula containing lactose (eHF) with those who were fed an amino acid formula (AAF).

Day care in relation to respiratory-tract and gastrointestinal infections in a German birth cohort study.

Aim: To describe day care attendance in Germany today (in former East and former West Germany). To investigate longitudinally whether children attending day care centres have an increased risk of acquiring common cold, bronchitis, pneumonia, otitis media or diarrhea.

Methods: Questionnaire information was collected when the children in the cohort were 6, 12, 18, 24 months, and 4 and 6 years old.

European birth cohort studies on asthma and atopic diseases: II. Comparison of outcomes and exposures--a GA2LEN initiative.

Background: The Global Allergy and Asthma European Network (GA2LEN) is a consortium of 26 leading European research centres committed to establish a European research area of excellence in the field of allergy and asthma.

Aim: One of the GA2LEN work packages was designed to identify and compare the existing European birth cohort studies on asthma and atopic diseases. The present review compares their subjective and objective outcomes as well as exposure variables.

European birth cohort studies on asthma and atopic diseases: I. Comparison of study designs -- a GALEN initiative.

Background: The reasons for the rise in asthma and allergies remain unclear. To identify risk or protective factors, it is essential to carry out longitudinal epidemiological studies, preferably birth cohort studies. In Europe, several birth cohort studies on asthma and atopic diseases have been initiated over the last two decades.