[Somatic development assessment of children with food allergy treated with milk free diet].

The aim of our study was to evaluate the influence of one year elimination diets on the somatic development and the nutritional status of children. 25 patients from the Department of Immunology of the Institute of Mother and Child aged 1-7 years with cow's milk allergy were investigated. The children were divided into two groups: 10 children received hydrolizated casein formula and 15 children received soya protein formula. The somatic development and nutritional status was assessed twice, the first time before the onset of treatment and the second time after one year of treatment. Anthropometric methods were used, body height, body mass, upper arm circumference and subscapular skinfold were measured. The data were compared with the normal Warsaw population data from 1996-99. The results showed that both the diet with hydrolizated casein formula and the soya protein resulted in normal somatic development of children.