Milk modified and specialized for children with food allergies or lactose intolerance

Cow's milk proteins are among the most common food allergens. This is a serious problem for formula-fed babies because formula is made from cow's or goat's milk. Lactose intolerance in infants is completely different from a food allergy to milk (called protein diathesis) and requires a different treatment. For children with both types of conditions, there are specialty milk substitutes commonly known as "specialized" milk substitutes.

 dr n. farm. Maria Kaspshak

Attention! This text is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice! In each case of malaise in a child, it is necessary to consult a doctor who will examine the patient and recommend appropriate treatment.

Before allergies - hypoallergenic milk to prevent protein stains

The tendency to allergies can be inherited, so if there are allergies in the family of a newborn child, the risk that the baby will also be allergic is significant. If at least one of the parents or siblings of the child was allergic to milk proteins, then - if the mother cannot breastfeed - it is worth considering giving the child the so-called hypoallergenic milk, marked with the symbol HA. This milk is for healthy children who do not yet have allergies and is used to reduce the likelihood of developing allergies. The protein in HA milk is slightly hydrolyzed and therefore its allergenic properties are somewhat reduced, but not completely eliminated. If your child has a milk protein allergy, according to the doctor, you will need to switch to special formulas for babies with a protein deficiency.

Is goat milk suitable for allergy sufferers?

No. Goat milk formulas contain proteins that are so similar to cow's milk proteins that almost always babies with cow's milk allergy will also be allergic to goat's milk. It is worth asking your doctor if healthy children can choose goat formula instead of milk HA to reduce the risk of cow's milk protein allergy. However, even in this case, you should not make such a decision on your own. Babies with an already diagnosed allergy (protein defect), if they do not drink mother's milk, should receive special preparations designed specifically for them.

Protein deficiency during breastfeeding

For a child with allergies, it is best if the mother is breastfeeding, as mother's milk does not cause allergies. However, some mothers find that their breastfed babies develop allergy symptoms - rashes, colic, abdominal pain and more. It may happen that some components of the mother's diet get into her milk and cause allergies in children. It is best to check what foods the mother ate, after which the baby began to feel unwell, and exclude these foods from the diet for the period of breastfeeding. Mothers of children with known allergies to milk proteins, eggs, or nuts should avoid these foods until they are weaned. However, if the child does not have allergies, then avoiding these products “just in case” is not necessary. A breastfeeding mother should eat as varied a diet as possible and introduce an elimination diet only when necessary. In order to get reliable advice, you should visit a doctor who will make the correct diagnosis and explain whether the child’s ailments are really related to allergies or the reason is different.

Milk substitutes for children with allergies

When the doctor determines that your child is allergic to milk proteins, you should give him formulas specially designed for small allergies. In order to significantly reduce the allergenicity of proteins, they are subjected to extended hydrolysis, that is, in other words, their molecules are cut into very small pieces that are so unlike the original proteins in shape that they are not recognized by microorganisms. organism as allergens. In 90% of children with allergies, taking these medications is enough to relieve symptoms and make the child feel better. Highly hydrolyzed protein products are generally lactose-free, but check the information on the specific product or consult a doctor before giving them to children with a lactose-contraindication. There are various modifications of such drugs - for example, containing supplements of probiotics or MCT fats.

Elemental diet based on free amino acids

Sometimes it happens that an infant has such a strong food allergy that even hydrolyzed proteins cause symptoms of the disease to a large extent. Sometimes you are allergic to various proteins or other nutrients, which may be due to digestive and absorption disorders. Then the small organism needs to be provided with food that it almost does not have to digest, but you can immediately assimilate ready-made nutrients. These drugs are called free amino acid (AAF - Amino Acid Formula) products or "elemental diets". The name comes from the fact that amino acids are the basic building blocks of proteins. Normally, proteins are digested, i.e. are broken down into free amino acids, and only these amino acids are absorbed into the blood. Elemental dietary preparations allow you to bypass the process of protein digestion. Thanks to this, the child's body eats easily digestible and non-allergenic food. Such preparations usually also do not contain lactose, only glucose syrup, possibly starch or maltodextrin. These highly specialized mixtures can only be administered under medical supervision.

Dairy-free preparations based on soy protein

For children who are allergic to milk proteins, but not allergic to soy or other proteins, there are milk substitutes based on soy protein. They may be marked with the symbol SL (lat. sine lac, without milk) and usually also lactose-free. If they are prescription, there is a refund, but in the absence of a refund, such a mixture is much cheaper than a hydrolyzate or an elemental diet.

With lactose intolerance in a child - galactosemia and lactase deficiency

Lactose is a very important nutrient for your baby's development. It should not be avoided unnecessarily, but there are times when it must be eliminated from a child's diet. Lactose (from the Latin lac - milk) - a carbohydrate present in milk - a disaccharide, the molecules of which consist of residues of glucose and galactose (from the Greek word gala - milk). In order for the body to absorb these carbohydrates, the lactose molecule must be digested, i.e. split into glucose and galactose - only they are absorbed into the blood in the small intestine. The enzyme lactase is used to digest lactose, which is found in young mammals, including babies. In animals and some people, the activity of this enzyme decreases with age, because in nature, adult animals do not have the opportunity to drink milk. However, lactose deficiency in infants is very rare and is a genetic disorder. When this happens, the undigested lactose is fermented in the intestines, leading to gas, diarrhea, and severe discomfort. Such a child should not be breast-fed or formula-fed.

The second, absolute contraindication to breastfeeding a child - even breast milk - is another genetic disease called galactosemia. This very rare condition probably occurs once in every 40–60 births. With galactosemia, lactose can be digested and absorbed, but the galactose released from it is not metabolized and accumulates in the body. This can lead to serious symptoms: liver failure, stunted growth, mental retardation, and even death. The only salvation for an infant is a generally lactose-free diet. A child with this disease can only be given specialized drugs, the manufacturer of which claims that they are intended for children suffering from galactosemia. People with galactosemia should constantly avoid lactose and galactose throughout their lives.

Bibliography

1. Nutrition for infants and young children. Rules of conduct in collective nutrition. Work edited by Galina Weker and Marta Baransky, Warsaw, 2014, Institute of Mother and Child: http://www.imid.med.pl/images/do-pobrania/Zykieta_niemowlat_www.pdf (accessed 9.10.2020/XNUMX/XNUMX October XNUMX G.)
2. Description of galactosemia in the Orphanet Rare Disease Database: https://www.orpha.net/data/patho/PL/Galaktozemiaklasyczna-PLplAbs11265.pdf (accessed 9.10.2020/XNUMX/XNUMX)

Mother's milk is the best way to feed babies. Modified milk supplements the diet of children who, for various reasons, cannot be breastfed.