What do people feel about the advice from Uni Tel Aviv to give formula in first 2 weeks to reduce allergies?

[Warwickmum]

Just wondering what people think?

I think that as it was funded by the Israeli Dairy Council it is not exactly unbiased.

Aha...it did all sound a bit dodgy to me, but didn't know who funded it!

It's advice based on the results of their study that showed 0.05 per cent (or 1 in 200 babies) turned out to have a particular form of cows milk protein allergy if they had regular amounts of formula in the first two weeks (how much formula is not recorded, as far as I can see) as opposed to 1.75 per cent of babies when formula was given to babies over three months.

The funders being the Israeli Dairy Board doesn't automatically make the study 'wrong' but as with any study, you need to look at the figures, the method and the conclusions. This study found the lowest incidence of this form of allergy was in the group given formula when older (over 6 mths) - but this bit has not been publicised. I would guess the lack of publicity given to this aspect is a result of the funding.

The advice to actually give a bottle of formula deliberately, in the first two weeks, is highly questionable, as we know that formula given early on affects the length of time women bf, and often hastens the early cessation of bf, with all the disadvantages to health involved with that. So giving a bottle has serious drawbacks, not alluded to in the study's publicity (again, I would suggest, because of the funding).

who needs Ben Goldacre with tiktok around?

Ben is my boyfriend, MoonFace.

As commented, the study measures presence of IgE which isn't entirely conclusive for CMP anyway.

my cousin was talking about this last week. didnt have a clue he was on about,

but i did point out that dd4 was reacting from the first breastfeed she had, and i think i have a photo of her soon after birth a bit blotchy