Serum IgE in healthy infants fed breast milk or cow's milk‐based formulas

Abstract

[Human] infants (95) were followed from birth to 1 yr of age and their total serum Ig[immunoglobulin]E concentration was studied. The infants were fed on breast milk, home-prepared cow''s milk formula or proprietary infant milk formula. Solid foods were introduced at 3.5 mo. of age. The breast milk group had lower IgE than the cow''s milk group up to 4 mo. of age, i.e., until the end of exclusive milk feeding. The formula group had intermediate IgE values. The difference was not due to presence of IgE antibodies to cow''s milk in the bottle-fed infants since no such antibodies could be detected. After introduction of solid foods the differences between the groups disappeared. Exclusive breast milk feeding can reduce total serum IgE concentration in early infancy. Reference values for unselected infants and infants with no atopic manifestations are reported.