Food allergy in preterm infants fed human milk

In 80 preterms aged 9-24 months (mean age: 15.9) and in 80 sex- and age-matched full-terms the frequency of atopic diseases and of positive skin tests to 8 food and 6 inhalant allergens was determined. The two groups did not differ as to overall percentages of cutipositive subjects and patients with atopic diseases. In particular, frequencies of positive skin tests to foods and of atopic dermatitis (the peak prevalence of which occurs early in infancy) were similar in preterm (16.2 and 7.5%, respectively) and full-term (13.7 and 5.0%, respectively) infants. We suggest that preterm infants fed human milk are not at increased risk of developing food allergy and related diseases and that the absorption of antigens through the immature intestine does not seem to favor the development of an IgE sensitization to foods.