Is it time to reconsider the role of partially hydrolyzed infant formulas in the prevention of allergic diseases?

Abstract

Allergic diseases are on the increase worldwide, incurring a high socioeconomic burden on patients, families, and healthcare systems. As a permanent cure for most allergies is still lacking, prevention is of paramount importance. So far, several strategies, including nutritional interventions, have been proposed to halt this phenomenon with inconclusive results. The use of partially hydrolyzed formulas (pHFs) for non-exclusively breastfed infants has been proposed by several scientific bodies; however, most have withdrawn this suggestion based on the concept of insufficient evidence. During the last few years, emerging evidence suggests that specific pHFs may reduce the risk of allergies in individuals at high risk for allergy development based on their heredity. In this article, we review the role of pHFs and propose that in non-exclusively breastfed infants at high-risk for allergy, the use of pHFs remains one of the most targeted interventions, as consistent data indicate a possible role in allergy prevention.