Hypoallergenic formula for children: how to choose the best? Pros and cons of hypoallergenic formulas for children, as well as tips on choosing for newborns Some tips on selecting hypoallergenic formulas for preventive purposes

Hypoallergenic formulas are specialized food for infants, the purpose of which is to cure or prevent food allergies.

Causes

In cases where mother's milk is not enough or due to other reasons, the child has to be transferred to formula milk.

It happens that when feeding, a rash, peeling and redness on the skin, changes in stool (consistency, color), difficulty breathing, rhinitis and others are observed, you should definitely consult a doctor.

If the cause of such manifestations is a food allergy, the pediatrician will recommend switching the baby to one of the hypoallergenic mixtures.

Dr. Komarovsky draws the attention of parents to the fact that the cause of the rash, as a rule, is overfeeding of babies. For more information about this, see the next excerpt from the program.

To learn how to find the cause of an allergy, see Dr. Komarovsky’s program.

An allergy to formula in an infant is not easy to diagnose; we recommend reading another article.

Allergies to proteins contained in cow's milk are often hereditary. If close relatives of the baby have such a problem, then the disease may also appear in the baby.

pros

When a medicinal mixture is prescribed, manifestations of food allergies quickly disappear. The baby's skin becomes clear, stool returns to normal, and the child becomes cheerful and cheerful. This is their main advantage. And the use of nutrition with a preventive effect will help prevent the development of allergy symptoms and switch to a regular formula without any problems.

Minuses

• It is not easy to introduce them into your baby’s diet because of their unpleasant taste. The presence of free amino acids in medicinal products causes their bitter taste. The hydrolyzed casein variety has a less pleasant taste than whey hydrolysates.
• Sometimes the reaction may be constipation and regurgitation.
• Another disadvantage is the rather high price.

In a child who is fed a hypoallergenic formula, the feces may acquire a greenish color due to undigested peptides and amino acids. This is considered a variant of the norm.

Kinds

The following types of hypoallergenic mixtures are distinguished:

1. Preventive.
2. Medicinal.

Preventive

A preventative hypoallergenic formula is a milk formula whose protein molecules are partially broken down into smaller molecules (peptides). They are digested much easier, so their absorption is rarely accompanied by an allergic reaction.

The ability to cause allergic reactions is influenced by the molecular weight of its peptides. If it is over 5-6 thousand daltons, then it can cause an allergic reaction if the baby’s body already has antibodies (this is not the first time the allergy has appeared). That is why they will not help with severe manifestations of allergies. However, if remission lasts longer than 6 months, the antibodies that were formed from long-term contact with allergens are gradually destroyed. During this period, the baby can be switched to a preventive formula.

Prophylactic mixtures include:

• Nutrilon GA;
• Nan H. A.;
• Similak GA;
• Frisolak GA;
• Humana H. A;
• Nutrilak GA;
• Celia GA et al.

They must be indicated that they are low- or hypoallergenic. Most of them contain more protein than the usual adapted mixture, and, on the contrary, less fat. Most of them are casein-free and the whey proteins are partially hydrolyzed.

Carbohydrates can be represented by:

• lactose;
• a mix of lactose and maltodextrin.

The second option is preferable for children who also have lactase deficiency. Mixtures containing less lactose include Celia, Frisolak and Nutrilac.

Features of preventive mixtures:

• Another name for them is “partial protein hydrolysate”.
• They are recommended for constant feeding of a healthy child who is at risk of developing an allergy to cow's milk proteins.
• They are also prescribed to babies who have long-term remission. With their help, the transition from the medicinal mixture to the usual one is carried out.
• They are prescribed for children who have developed a reaction to cow's milk for the first time.
• They are not prescribed for moderate and severe forms of allergies.
• There are formulas 1 for children 0-6 months, as well as formulas 2.
• Some of these include probiotics (usually bifidobacteria) and prebiotics. These substances have a positive effect in the presence of food allergies. Probiotics are added to Celia GA and Nan GA, and prebiotics are added to Frisolak GA, Nutrilon GA, Similak GA and Nutrilac GA.
• They also add nucleotides to strengthen the baby’s immunity. These substances are available in mixtures Nutrilak, Frisolak, Nan, Similak and Nutrilon.
• Similak and Nutrilak contain lutein, which promotes the development of the baby's vision.

A separate treatment and prophylactic type is distinguished. These include HiPP Combiotic HA, represented by formula 1 and formula 2.

This mixture for babies up to six months (formula 1) is highly hydrolyzed. The fats in it are the same as in regular mixtures, and among the carbohydrates in Hipp there are lactose and starch. It is prescribed to newborns with an increased risk of allergies, as well as children with mild allergies.

Formula 2 is a partial hydrolyzate and is recommended for children over 6 months of age as a product that will help the child’s body gradually adapt to cow’s milk.

The difference between the Hipp Combiotic GA mixture and the others is that only it contains probiotics, represented by bifidobacteria, and prebiotics, represented by dietary fiber.

For information about the selection rules, see the following video.

Medicinal

Peculiarities:

• Their other names are "complete hydrolyzate" and "highly hydrolyzed mixture."
• They do not contain whole cow's milk proteins because they are enzymatically broken down into peptides.
• The peptides of whey mixtures are much larger than casein ones. That is why therapeutic mixtures based on whey are prescribed for moderate food allergies. Note that they are more physiological and are absorbed better than casein ones. In this case, children gain weight faster.
• They have no age division, except for Nutramigen Lipil.

You will learn more about this by watching the following video.

Serum

Whey treatment mixtures are also available as lactose-free (Nutrilak Pepti STC and Alfare). The rest contain less lactose than regular ones. The most palatable and sweetest among whey hydrolysates is Friso PEP.

Among the fats that are included in them are medium chain triglycerides. They are much better digestible and are recommended if there are concomitant problems with fat absorption. Nutrilon Pepti and Friso PEP contain nucleotides as well as prebiotics. Docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid have been added to the medicinal mixtures from Nutrilon and Nutrilak.

Casein

There are no allergic reactions to casein medicinal mixtures due to the low molecular weight of the peptides in their composition, so they are prescribed for severe allergies. However, their difference is their lower biological value. And due to the presence of free amino acids, their taste is bitter and unpleasant.

They contain more protein, they do not contain prebiotics and lactose, and the carbohydrates in their composition are starch and glucose. Pregestimil, Nutramigen and Friso PEP AC have added medium chain triglycerides. Nucleotides, arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acid were also added to Pregestimil. Also, nucleotides are noted in the composition of Friso PEP, and these acids are found in the composition of Nutramigen.

Soybeans

In addition to whey and hypoallergenic casein, pleasant-tasting soy mixtures are offered for babies intolerant to cow's milk. These include:

• Friso-soy;
• Nan soy;
• Similak Isomil;
• Bellact Soya;
• Humana SL;
• Nutrilon Soya and others.

They are given to babies older than 5-6 months. It must be administered carefully, since 30% of newborns may be allergic to soy proteins. The required amount is increased over the course of a week, excluding any dairy products from the baby’s menu.

Calculate your complementary feeding table

Infants from families with allergies should, if possible, be fed exclusively breast milk for the first 6 months.

This is the best prevention of allergies. If breastfeeding babies prone to allergies is impossible for some reason, then you can use Hipp HA hypoallergenic nutrition.

Milk protein can be a decisive factor in the manifestation of allergies.

When producing hypoallergenic food using a special production process, milk protein is broken down so that structural protein elements are formed that are less foreign to the child's body.

Hypoallergenic mixtures Hipp HA Combiotic® are a new generation of hypoallergenic nutrition modeled on nature, which contains

• important dietary fiber (galactooligosaccharides from lactose)
• lactic acid bacteria cultures
• Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids
• hydrolyzed low-allergenic protein

Compound

Lactose, vegetable oils (palm oil, low erucic rapeseed oil, sunflower oil), potato starch, corn starch, hydrolyzed whey protein, prebiotic dietary fiber (galactooligosaccharides from lactose), calcium orthophosphates, potassium chloride, emulsifier: citric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides fatty acids, L-tyrosine, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, calcium citrate, vitamin C, magnesium carbonate, potassium citrate, magnesium sulfate, L-tryptophan, calcium carbonate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, probiotic lactic acid culture (Lactobacillus fermentum hereditum®1 ), pantothenic acid, vitamin A, niacin, copper sulfate, vitamin E, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, potassium iodate, folic acid, vitamin K, sodium selenate, biotin, vitamin D, vitamin B12

1 Lactobacillus fermentum hereditum CEST 5716 (not less than 1.5x106 CFU/g).

Cooking method

When preparing the mixture, strictly follow the instructions. Failure to follow the instructions for preparing the formula or storing the prepared formula in a bottle for a long time can harm the baby’s health due to the appearance of unwanted microorganisms in the diluted mixture.

Always prepare a fresh portion of formula before each feeding and feed your baby immediately after preparing the formula. Do not reuse leftover formula after feeding. Do not heat the mixture in the microwave (risk of overheating!).

Wash your hands before preparing the mixture.

Wash and sterilize the bottle, nipple and cap thoroughly.

For preparation, use fresh boiled water, cooled to 40-50°C.

Add about 2/3 of the required volume of water (see feeding chart) to the feeding bottle.

Use a measuring spoon to scoop the dry mixture and remove excess with the blunt edge of a clean knife. Pour the recommended number of scoops of the mixture (see feeding table) into the bottle.

Close the bottle tightly and shake well several times.

Add the remaining amount of boiled water and shake well a few more times.

Cool the mixture to feeding temperature (about 37°C), check the temperature.

Warning: Please do not dilute the mixture with boiling water to avoid destroying the probiotic lactic acid cultures contained in the mixture.

Content

If your child is prone to allergies, then it is preferable to introduce hypoallergenic formulas into his diet, because they are usually dairy-free and contain protein hydrolysate. There is a huge range of such baby food on the market, and sometimes it is very difficult for parents, especially inexperienced ones, to make the right choice. Read how different types of hypoallergenic products differ from each other and what their properties are. This will help you make the right decision.

What is a hypoallergenic mixture

Every mother wants to feed her baby only breast milk, but for various reasons this is sometimes not possible. In such a situation, special baby food comes to the rescue. However, if a child is found to be allergic to it, this puts young parents into a state of shock. There is no need to panic, because modern manufacturers have taken this situation into account and have released hypoallergenic formulas for newborns.

How does this diet differ from ordinary food? Hypoallergenic formula for newborns has other components in its composition; as a rule, it does not contain natural milk beans. It is specially designed so that, when it enters the baby’s body, it does not provoke allergic reactions and can be used for treatment, during remission and for prevention. There are several types of hypoallergenic food:

1. Dairy-free formulas for infants. Suitable for children who are completely intolerant to cow's milk. Contains soy protein.
2. Low and lactose free. Designed for children with lactose intolerance. Used for diarrhea and intestinal infections.
3. Adapted proteins. Designed for children with severe milk allergies, cystic fibrosis, premature babies and children who are not gaining weight well.
4. Dairy without phenylalanine. Intended for children with phenylketonuria.
5. Gluten-free. For kids who are completely intolerant to cereals.

The mixtures are available in the following forms:

1. Dry. Powder with economical consumption and long shelf life. Diluted with water in the proportions indicated on the package.
2. Liquid concentrated. Diluted with water one to one, it is not stored for long.
3. Ready. This kind of food just needs to be heated.

Therapeutic hypoallergenic mixtures

Prescribed by specialists (allergist or pediatrician) if a child has a food allergy or other disorders. They are based on cow's milk with a high degree of hydrolysis (splitting) of the protein substrate. Therapeutic mixtures for children with allergies contain vitamins, trace elements, and minerals. They are prescribed for:

• food allergies of mild, moderate, severe course;
• problems with digestion and absorption (can be caused by intestinal surgery, chronic diarrhea, pancreatic insufficiency, cystic fibrosis and other conditions);
• malnutrition;
• severe intestinal absorption syndrome.

Medicinal mixtures can be:

1. Serum. Contains peptides obtained during the breakdown of whey proteins. Such products are characterized by high biological value.
2. Casein. With split casein peptides.
3. Soy.

Preventive hypoallergenic mixtures

Food for children who are at increased risk of allergies (for example, because one or both parents have them). The preventive hypoallergenic mixture contains partially hydrolyzed milk protein, which is easier to digest than whole milk. This diet is prescribed for:

• increased risk of allergies;
• the first manifestation of a reaction to cow's milk;
• long-term remission after allergies.

Nan hypoallergenic

• price: 320-690 rubles per 400 g;
• composition: partially hydrolyzed whey protein, lactose, polyunsaturated fatty acids, lacto- and bifidobacteria, maltodextrin (in the Nan-2 product);
• for what age: Nan-1 from birth to six months, Nan-2 from 6 months to one year, Nan-3 from 12 months;
• pros: dissolves very quickly, pleasant taste, practically no bitterness characteristic of hypoallergenic food, presence of fatty acids, safe composition, convenient packaging with a measuring spoon, economical consumption;
• cons: expensive, possible constipation and green stool.

Nutrilon hypoallergenic

The baby food manufacturer produces several types of products for children with food sensitivities. The hypoallergenic formula Nutrilon is very similar in composition to breast milk and is suitable for preventing the disease. Has the following characteristics:

• price: 400 g costs 650-800 rubles;
• composition: partially hydrolyzed milk proteins, fatty acids, lactose, palm oil, prebiotics, soy lecithin, vitamins, minerals, taurine;
• for what age: Nutrilon No. 1 from 0 to 6 months, No. 2 - from six months;
• advantages: prebiotics develop strong immunity, fatty acids contribute to the normal development of the central nervous system, brain, visual function, nutrition prevents the occurrence of intestinal infections; convenient packaging;
• cons: expensive, sometimes causes bowel problems.

Similak hypoallergenic

The products of this brand are manufactured in Spain. The hypoallergenic mixture Similac has many positive reviews from parents who have used it, but it is not suitable for some children. List of its main characteristics:

• price: 615-770 rub.;
• composition: partial protein hydrolysate, vitamins, lactose, minerals, lutein, vegetable oils, nucleotides, fatty acids, prebiotics, maltodextrin;
• for what age: No. 1 – up to six months, No. 2 – from 6 months to one year;
• pros: reduces the risk of flatulence, promotes full brain development, maintains normal intestinal microflora, has a good effect on the formation of the nervous system, does not contain palm oil;
• cons: not suitable for some children and causes intestinal disorders.

Nestozhen hypoallergenic

Nestlé products. The Nestozhen formula is hypoallergenic in composition and is as close as possible to a woman’s breast milk. Many parents prefer this brand because of its affordable price and good composition. However, there are also negative reviews from mothers indicating that this diet was not suitable for their child. Description:

• price: 270-490 rub.;
• composition: protein hydrolyzate, prebiotics, maltodextrin, vitamins, minerals;
• for what age: from birth;
• advantages: pleasant smell, sweet taste, quickly diluted, affordable price, abundance of useful components in the composition ensures the full development of the child’s body;
• disadvantages: inconvenient packaging, the diet is not suitable for everyone, for some it causes severe constipation and abdominal pain.

Nutrilak hypoallergenic

It’s worth noting right away that reviews of this product are mixed. The hypoallergenic mixture Nutrilak has a much stronger bitter taste than its analogues, so some kids outright refuse to eat it. Main power characteristics:

• price: 200-410 rubles;
• composition: reduced lactose content, maltodextrin, partially split whey protein, prebiotics, omega-3-6 arachnoid and docosahexaenoic fatty acids, nucleotides, probiotics, vitamins, lutein, no palm oil;
• for what age: No. 1 – 0-6 months, No. 2 – older than six months;
• pros: low price, the components of the mixture have a positive effect on the baby’s brain, nervous system, bone and muscle tissue;
• cons: sometimes not suitable, bitter taste and unpleasant smell.

Bellact hypoallergenic

Products of a Belarusian company. Bellact hypoallergenic mixture has been on the market for a long time and has managed to acquire a lot of fans among parents.

• price: 240-450 rub.;
• composition: maltodextrin, prebiotics, partially hydrolyzed whey proteins, vegetable oils, minerals, vitamins, amino acids, nucleotides;
• for what age: No. 1 up to six months, No. 2 from 6 to 12 months;
• pros: low price, no preservatives, dyes, flavor enhancers, easily digestible, does not irritate the intestines, helps get rid of colic, promotes healthy growth and development of the child.
• disadvantages: some children are intolerant to the components of this mixture.

Friso hypoallergenic

The product is considered preventive because it contains partially hydrolyzed milk protein. According to numerous reviews from parents, the hypoallergenic Friso mixture is considered one of the best on the market, although it belongs to the high price segment. Peculiarities:

• price: 620-850 rub.;
• composition: partially hydrolyzed cow's milk protein, fatty acids, nucleotides, prebiotics, nutrients, trace elements, minerals, vitamins, calcium, lactose, vegetable oils, potassium, maltodextrin, taurine, carnitine, choline.
• for what age: No. 1 up to six months, No. 2 up to one year;
• advantages: it is preventive and develops smooth tolerance to cow's milk, promotes the proper development of the brain and vision organs, increases immunity, improves intestinal microflora, very convenient economical packaging which has a photo with a detailed description of the composition;
• Cons: In very rare cases, not suitable for children, but this is due to the taste, not the ingredients.

The baby is hypoallergenic

This company's baby food line includes a fermented milk product suitable for sensitive babies, but we must warn you that reviews about it are too mixed. This powder is well tolerated by some babies, while for others it only makes their allergies worse. The hypoallergenic mixture Malyutka has the following features:

• price: 430-650 rubles;
• composition: lactose, vitamins, microelements, partial hydrolyzate of milk protein, fatty acids, starch, nutrients, trace elements, vegetable oils%
• for what age: from birth to one year;
• Pros: tasty, easily dissolves, helps the child grow and develop quickly.
• Cons: high price, not suitable for many.

How to choose a hypoallergenic mixture

If you notice signs of an allergy in your baby or know that he has a tendency to it, then the most reasonable decision would be to visit a doctor. It is preferable that you choose a hypoallergenic mixture under his guidance and supervision, especially if you are faced with this issue for the first time. You can buy products in regular supermarkets, pharmacies, or order from an online store catalog with delivery. There are several tips that you should definitely use when purchasing this or that food:

1. You need hydrolyzed baby formulas labeled "HA" or "NA".
2. It is preferable that the composition does not include coconut, rapeseed or palm oils.
3. Be sure to check the production date and shelf life.
4. Introduce any new mixture into your baby’s diet gradually, observing his reaction. Keep a special food diary and note there everything that has to do with feeding. Write down which hypoallergenic mixture is better in your opinion, and do a comparative analysis.
5. Do not change the mixture too often; the body must adapt to each product, and this takes time.
6. Choose a product for feeding according to the age of the baby. As a rule, children from birth to six months should take boxes marked “1”, over 6 months – with a “2” mark, after a year – “3”. If the child is premature or too weak, formulas marked “0” or “Pre” are bought for him, but only after agreement with the doctor. At each age, the baby's nutritional needs are different.
7. When making a purchase, rely not on the price, but on the composition. Elite and mass-market mixtures may contain exactly the same components. Study reviews and ratings from other moms to understand what a particular product is like. Inexpensive food can also be of high quality.

A hypoallergenic formula is a specialized baby food intended for the prevention or treatment of food allergies in children from birth to one year. The list of hypoallergenic formulas for newborns on sale is very extensive. When choosing a formula for your baby, you need to navigate their varieties, since food with the same HA label (which means “hypoallergenic”) can differ radically in composition, because food intolerance can be caused by various products in baby food. Each type of anti-allergenic mixture provides a replacement for a specific allergen. Therefore, before making a choice, you need to make sure that the baby really has a food allergy and the allergen is identified correctly.

Choosing from all the variety is the only universal option; it is impossible to find an ideal mixture for everyone. It would be more correct to determine which is best for a particular baby, taking into account his age, the intensity of allergic manifestations and, most importantly, the cause of the allergic reaction.

Symptoms of food allergies

First of all, you need to make sure that the child has manifestations of a food allergy, and not other diseases, and that it is an allergy to formula milk.

Important: Breastfed babies may also show signs of food allergies. In this case, the nursing mother should look for the source of the problem in her diet. For mixed-fed infants, an allergen can be either a supplementary feeding component or a product eaten by the mother.

Food intolerance in a baby under one year of age manifests itself:

• on the skin - this may be a slight redness of the cheeks or a rash all over the body;
• from the digestive system - stool disorder, colic, regurgitation;
• less often from the respiratory system - shortness of breath, runny nose, cough.

Symptoms can appear either separately or in combination. If measures are not taken on time, then you will then have to treat not only the allergy, but also its consequences (damage and wounds on the skin, dysbacteriosis, etc.).

If your baby shows signs of allergies, do not rush to the store for another formula. First of all, you should contact your pediatrician, take the necessary tests and find out which component has become an allergen in your case. The doctor will help you decide on the choice of hypoallergenic formulas for newborns.

Classifications of children's hypoallergenic food

All hypoallergenic mixtures can be classified according to the age for which they are intended, by the form of release, by the intensity of the therapeutic effect and by the substance that replaces the allergen in the composition.

By age group, baby food for allergy sufferers is divided in the same way as regular milk formula:

• With a unit on the package, adapted products are produced for infants from birth to six months.
• Packages with a partially adapted composition are marked with the number “2” and are intended for babies from 6 months to one year.

Dry mixtures are varied and have a long shelf life

According to the release form, hypoallergenic baby food can be found in the form of:

• dry powder (characterized by long shelf life, a variety of packaging from small cardboard boxes to kilogram cans, requires dilution with water in accordance with the instructions, most mixtures are produced in the form of dry powder);
• concentrate for dilution (dilutes with water, dissolves more easily compared to powder, has shorter shelf life);
• a ready-to-drink drink (you just need to warm it up before drinking, does not need to be diluted with water, is convenient to take with you on the road, has a high price and a small assortment).

For children who have only a genetic predisposition to allergies, and for those in whom it has already made itself felt, the diet will be very different. It is important to consider that mixtures for allergy sufferers differ in purpose:

• preventive – suitable for healthy children who have a genetic predisposition to food allergies, either minor or the first manifestations of it, or as a transitional step from therapeutic to normal nutrition after long-term remission (within 3 months there are no signs of food intolerance);
• medicinal - such mixtures can only be prescribed by a doctor; they will help even with advanced allergies.

Pros and cons of specialized nutrition for allergy sufferers

For many parents, hypoallergenic formulas can be a real salvation. Therapeutic nutrition can eliminate signs of allergies: cleanse the skin, normalize stool. The baby will become cheerful and cheerful. Preventative mixtures will help prevent the occurrence of allergies and switch to a regular mixture without unpleasant consequences. But such nutrition is not without its drawbacks.

When switching to a hypoallergenic mixture, be prepared for the fact that it has a specific, bitter taste due to hydrolyzed protein or amino acids in the composition. This is one of the reasons for the need to gradually introduce a new hypoallergenic mixture. Another unpleasant surprise may be the high cost of such products, especially the medicinal type, compared to food for healthy babies. And, of course, we cannot exclude the possibility of an individual reaction of the body. A new mixture, even a medicinal one, can cause regurgitation and constipation.

Preventive hypoallergenic mixtures

The composition of preventive formulas for newborns suffering from allergies differs in protein structure. In this diet, it is broken down into smaller molecules to facilitate digestion. For severe manifestations of allergies, such a product will not help, but during remission or minor allergic reactions, it is suitable.

Such mixtures are produced by many manufacturers, all of them label them with the abbreviation HA - hypoallergenic or NA - low allergenic. Most of them are divided into fully (1) and partially (2) adapted.

• Nutrilon GA with the PronutriPlus complex for the development of intelligence and immunity (enriched with prebiotics, nucleotides, vegetable oils, carbohydrates are represented by lactose identical to breast milk);
• NAS NA with the OptiPro protein complex for the growth and development of the baby (the composition is enriched with bifidobacteria to improve the microflora, nucleotides for the development of the nervous system and fatty acids for the immune system), convenient in that it is produced not only for infants up to 6 months and up to a year, but also for older children under the numbers 3 (up to one and a half years) and 4 (from 18 months);
• Similac GA is one of the first mixtures produced without palm oil, saturated with fatty acids, prebiotics and lutein for the development of visual organs;
• Humana HA is available in the form of ready-to-drink liquid (numbered 0, suitable from birth) and powder (numbered 1 - up to six months, 2 - up to 10 months, 3 - from 10 months).

In these formulas, the protein is not only partially hydrolyzed, but also added in greater quantities than in regular infant formula.

Separately, we can highlight preventive mixtures that are suitable for babies with lactase deficiency. In addition to partially digested protein, their composition also differs in that the carbohydrates in it are represented by a mix of maltodextrin and lactose:

• Frisolak GA;
• Nutrilak GA (lutein, which is involved in the development of the visual analyzer, has been added to the composition, and the lactose content has been reduced);
• Celia GA (considered less adapted, since it is produced without age restrictions for children from birth to one year).

Lactose-free mixtures are also available on sale, for example, Bellakt GA, produced in Belarus. This is an excellent budget option for newborns with lactose intolerance. This mixture is also rich in probiotics and vitamins.

The category of hypoallergenic formulas does not include mixtures based on soy (Friso COY, Similac Isomil) and goat milk (Nanny, MAMAKO, Kabrita). There is a possibility that they will be suitable for children with food intolerance to cow's milk protein. They taste good and do not affect the stool. But both soy protein and goat milk protein can also cause allergies!

If a child has already been diagnosed with a food allergy and its manifestations are intensifying, the doctor (allergist or pediatrician) will prescribe not a preventive, but a therapeutic mixture

Therapeutic hypoallergenic mixtures

Mixtures with fully hydrolyzed protein are classified as medicinal and are prescribed by doctors for acute allergic reactions, impaired absorption and digestion, after operations on the stomach and intestines, and when feeding premature babies.

Such a product may also be referred to as a highly hydrolyzed or complete protein hydrolysate. It is not divided by age categories; it is available in one universal form for infants from birth to one year.

The protein component in therapeutic nutrition for allergy sufferers can be represented by hydrolyzed whey proteins or casein. There is baby food without protein at all.

• Baby food based on whey protein hydrolyzate has the highest nutritional value among other medicinal formulas for allergy sufferers, this is especially important for prematurity and malnutrition. But it is also more allergenic compared to casein. The most popular whey mixtures are Friso PEP due to its pleasant sweet taste, Nutrilon Pepti due to its composition enriched with prebiotics and nucleotides, and Nutrilak Pepti due to the absence of lactose and low cost.
• Therapeutic nutrition based on casein hydrolyzate extremely rarely causes allergies and is recommended for its most severe forms, but it has an even more bitter taste and lower nutritional value compared to whey. On sale you can find casein baby food under the brands Nutramigen, Progestimil and Friso PEP AS. Their compositions are very similar, but Friso is more physiological, as it contains a minimal amount of lactose. Nutramigen mixtures, the only ones among medicinal ones, are divided according to the degree of adaptation for children up to 6 months (1) and after (2).
• Nutrition based on synthetic amino acids does not cause protein allergies at all, since it does not contain a protein structure, just like lactose. It is represented on the baby food market by Nutricia (Nutrilon Amino Acids, Neocate) and Nestlé (Alfare Amino). The Neocate brand also produces a drink for children over 12 months - Neocate Advance. A significant disadvantage of these products is their price - from 2000 to 5000 rubles per package. Amino acid-based products are prescribed if treatment with highly hydrolyzed mixtures for 2 weeks has not resulted in improvement.

The transition to nutritional therapy should be carried out under the supervision of a pediatrician

Be prepared for the fact that it may cause an allergic reaction. Therefore, do not stock up on mixtures for future use and pay attention to the expiration date of the product. In case of long-term remission, the doctor will recommend switching to preventive, and then to regular artificial baby food. This is necessary for the development of the baby’s digestive system and a complete balanced diet.

When choosing baby food for allergy sufferers, a lot of questions arise. Pediatricians usually offer several suitable options with almost identical compositions. Parents will have to choose the best formula for their baby, and it is not always an expensive or famous product. Focus primarily on the composition of the product, whether it really satisfies all the requirements of a small organism. Feedback from other mothers can also be of great help. But still, it is possible that hypoallergenic food will have to be selected experimentally, since the body’s reaction is individual.

The concept of dairy-free formulas combines baby food products that do not contain milk components such as protein and lactose. They are the cause of food allergies and intolerance to cow's milk in most cases. All of them relate to adapted therapeutic or therapeutic-and-prophylactic nutrition, which can be used if necessary from the birth of the child until one year. The use of all types of dairy-free formulas is carried out only after consultation with a doctor.

Dairy-free infant formulas include:

• lactose-free;
• some types are hypoallergenic;
• soybeans

Strictly speaking, this list includes only lactose-free hypoallergenic mixtures based on synthetic amino acids and soy. Only they do not contain both lactose and milk protein at the same time. Most lactose-free formulas are only free of lactose.

Important! Only lactose-free hypoallergenic mixtures based on synthetic amino acids and soy are completely dairy-free (do not contain lactose or milk protein).

Composition of dairy-free mixtures

Lactose-free mixtures containing demineralized whey (one of the protein components of the product) have traces of lactose and are classified as therapeutic and prophylactic (“Nan lactose-free”, “Nutrilon Premium lactose-free”). To completely guarantee the absence of lactose, the source of amino acids in the mixture must be represented by a fundamentally different component:

• calcium caseinate (“Nutrilon Premium lactose-free”, “Babushkino Lukoshko lactose-free”);
• soy protein isolate (“Nutrilak soya”, “Similak Izomil”, “Frisosoy”);
• highly hydrolyzed whey protein (Alfare, Pepticate, Frisopep);
• casein hydrolyzate (“Nutramigen Lipil 1”, “Frisopep AS”);
• a set of synthetic amino acids (“Nutrilon amino acids”, “Alfare Amino”, “Neocate LCP”).

When milk proteins are separated, two fractions are formed - whey and casein. If casein is then treated with a weak solution of calcium hydroxide, the result is a compound of casein with calcium (calcium caseinate). This technology makes casein soluble in water.

Highly hydrolyzed protein (whey, casein) means protein that has been split into small parts - peptides and individual amino acids, which reduces its allergenicity. A diet containing synthetic amino acids is completely devoid of even the smallest protein fragments.

The protein component of soy mixtures is soy isolate (“Nutrilak soya”, “Similak Izomil”, “Frisosoy”), isolated from soybeans. It contains all the essential amino acids, with the exception of methionine, which is additionally added to the diet to increase its biological value. Many people mistakenly believe that soy in such products is harmful because it is genetically modified. This statement is incorrect, since in relation to all baby food there is a strict ban on the use of any genetically modified raw materials.

Since lactose, which has a sweet taste, is absent in dairy-free formulas, it is replaced with other carbohydrates: maltodextrin, glucose, partially hydrolyzed gluten-free starch, sucrose. Milk fat, as in conventional infant formulas, is replaced with vegetable fat with the addition of some polyunsaturated fatty acids from other sources necessary for the growth and development of the child. All of them contain a complex of vitamins and minerals and other useful additives.

Important! Mixtures with highly hydrolyzed whey protein, casein hydrolyzate, and also based on synthetic amino acids are classified as. Despite the absence of cow's milk protein in soy mixtures, they are not hypoallergenic.

Examples of dairy-free baby foods

When are dairy-free formulas prescribed?

Indications for the prescription of lactose-free mixtures are diseases associated with complete or partial intolerance to lactose or galactose (a component of lactose). Complete lactose intolerance refers to the genetic inability of the body to produce the enzyme that breaks down lactose, and secondary lactose intolerance refers to its insufficient production. In the first case, the child is immediately transferred to lactose-free formula and maintains a lactose-free diet throughout his life. In the second case, the tactics of use are determined by the doctor and depend on the type of feeding of the child.

When breastfeeding, first of all, they try to preserve mother's milk, so lactase drugs are first prescribed, and only if treatment is ineffective, part of the breast milk is gradually replaced with formula. When artificial feeding, lactose-free formulas are not prescribed. They are used instead, since complete exclusion of lactose is undesirable for a child. After 5-7 days from the start of treatment, symptoms usually disappear. For galactosemia, which is a congenital disease associated with galactose intolerance, only artificial nutrition is used with the complete absence of lactose and galactose (with casein hydrolyzate, casein-dominant, amino acid-based, soybean isolate), which makes mixtures containing 50-60% whey unacceptable. proteins. It is best to use food based on soy protein isolate, and in case of an allergy to it, switch completely or partially to products with casein hydrolyzate or from a set of synthetic amino acids. The transition to a new diet is carried out gradually, starting with small portions.

Nutrition for children with casein hydrolyzate, highly hydrolyzed whey protein and amino acids is used for moderate and severe forms of allergy to cow's milk protein.