Efficacy and safety of a soy-protein-formula for feeding babies with atopic dermatitis and cow's milk hypersensitivity.

In this paper we report 21 infants with atopic dermatitis (AD) due to cow's milk (CM) hypersensitivity in 20/21 of whom a CM-free diet using as a CM-substitute a soy-protein formula improved the skin lesions, in addition to insuring a regular growth in all infants. Only one infant failed to complete the trial due to an absolute refusal of the soy protein formula. A possible secondary sensitization to soy was found in one infant, in whom dietary therapy alone was not effective. We conclude that soy-protein formulas represent an effective CM-substitute when CM must be eliminated from the diet of an infant with AD.