Fiona Stanley Hospital study investigates impact of infant feeding on cow’s milk allergy

A study is underway at Fiona Stanley Hospital to investigate the impact of early infant feeding on cow's milk allergy.

In Australia, two per cent of infants develop a cow’s milk allergy before the age of two, but it is not well understood why some infants develop a cow’s milk allergy when others don’t.

Fiona Stanley Hospital Consultant Immunologist Dr Michael O’Sullivan said the study aims to understand why cow’s milk allergy occurs and may influence future feeding recommendations for newborns.

“Cow’s milk protein is a common allergen, frequently found in many foods, and allergy can be difficult to manage for children and their families,” Michael said.

“The study will investigate if early cow’s milk formula feeding increases or decreases the chance of cow’s milk allergy,” Michael said.

“It will also compare outcomes for different feeding types, looking at exclusive breastfeeding, exclusive formula feeding and mixed feeding.”

The study team are still seeking parents of children born at Fiona Stanley Hospital in 2022 to complete a short online questionnaire (5 minutes) about how their baby was fed in the early months and any symptoms of cow’s milk allergy. These parents have been invited to participate via email or text message containing a link to the questionnaire.

Michael is working with Dr Aisling Woods, an advanced trainee in General Paediatrics and Community Child Health from the Child and Adolescent Health Service, on this study. The results of this project are likely to be available early 2027.

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