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A Clinical Study to Investigate the Effect of a Partially Hydrolysed Infant Formula With Added Synbiotics on Gut Microbiota Composition and Clinical Effectiveness in Infants at High Risk of Developing Allergy

Phase 3
Completed
Conditions
Immunity
Interventions
Other: Standard infant formula
Other: Infant formula with added synbiotics
Registration Number
NCT03067714
Lead Sponsor
Nutricia Research
Brief Summary

With the rising prevalence of allergic diseases and the subsequent risk of developing other immune-related disorders, primary prevention of allergy has become a major priority. It is generally acknowledged that breastfeeding is one of the main pillars in allergy prevention. Infant formulas based on hydrolysed proteins have been developed to be used by infants at increased risk of developing allergy in case a mother is unable or chooses not to breastfeed her infant. It has recently been demonstrated that the gut microbiota composition and microbiota activity of infants receiving an infant formula based on partially hydrolysed proteins, supplemented with oligosaccharides, is more similar to breastfed infants than to infants receiving standard cow's milk formula, demonstrated by increased levels of bifidobacteria. However the interaction between microbial changes impacted by an hypoallergenic concept and its influence on early life immune development should be further explored. The aim of the present study is therefore to investigate the bifidogenic effect of a hypoallergenic formula supplemented with prebiotics and probiotics compared to standard infant formula in infants at increased risk of developing allergic disease. This study will secondary assess the effects of this concept on the development of allergic manifestations up to the age of 12 months, which will be verified in a separate clinical study MAESTRO as primary outcome. Furthermore, the effects on growth and safety will be studied.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
855
Inclusion Criteria
  1. Healthy term infants (gestational age ≥ 37 and ≤ 42 weeks) at high risk of developing allergy based on family history of allergy (*1).
  2. Infants aged ≤ 16 weeks (max. 16 weeks + 0 days), preferably as soon as possible after birth.
  3. Infants who start formula feeding within 16 weeks of age (infants of mothers who have chosen not to breastfeed or mothers who completely/partially cease breastfeeding before the subject's age of 16 weeks) (*2) OR Infants who are exclusively breastfed and whose mothers have the intention to exclusively breastfeed at least until their infant is 16 weeks of age (*2,3).
  4. Written informed consent from one or both parents (according to local laws) and/or legal guardian.

1* Family history of allergy is defined as at least one first-degree relative (parent or full sibling) with self-reported historically doctor confirmed allergic disease (allergic rhinitis, asthma, food allergy, allergic eczema). In case of a self-reported historically non-doctor confirmed allergic disease, doctor confirmation must be done as part of the screening procedure according to local practice (e.g. skin prick test, IgE measurement).

2* Subjects whose mother intents to switch to formula feeding before the subject's age of 16 weeks but in the end still exclusively breastfeed, will be included in the breastfed reference group. The other way around, subjects whose mother intents to exclusively breastfeed for at least 16 weeks, but in the end decides to switch to formula earlier, will be included in the randomised groups. All these subjects should meet all other in-/exclusion criteria.

3* Exclusive breast feeding. WHO definition: only breast milk and no other liquids or solids except for drops or syrups consisting of vitamins, mineral supplements or medicines [2]. In addition to the WHO definition, in this study water is allowed as well as formula feeding during the first 72 hours of life.

Exclusion Criteria
  1. Consumption of any amount of infant formula based on intact protein before randomisation, except from consumption during the first 72 hours of life.
  2. Consumption of any amount of infant formula with added probiotics and/or probiotic supplement before randomisation.
  3. Existing allergic manifestations (e.g. allergic skin disorders, food allergy) before randomisation according to investigator's clinical assessment.
  4. Established or suspected cows' milk allergy, lactose intolerance, galactosaemia, or in infants on a fibre-free diet.
  5. Severe congenital abnormalities which could influence the subjects' growth (e.g. cystic fibrosis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, tracheomalacia, tracheoesophageal fistula, major congenital heart disease, or any other condition according to investigator's clinical judgement).
  6. Severe neonatal illnesses (e.g. respiratory distress syndrome, severe sepsis intraventricular hemorrhage, severe neonatal jaundice, necrotizing enterocolitis, persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn, or any other condition which required to be treated with intravenous and/or intramuscular antibiotics).
  7. Known underlying disease predisposing to infection (e.g. HIV, viral hepatitis B, and C, auto-immune diabetes, immune deficiency).
  8. Severe renal failure and hepatic failure according to investigator's clinical judgement.
  9. Incapability of the parents to comply with study protocol or investigator's uncertainty about the willingness or ability of the subject to comply with the protocol requirements
  10. Participation in other studies involving investigational or marketed products concomitantly or within two weeks prior to screening visit.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Control product: standard formula (intact protein)Standard infant formula-
Active product: partially hydrolysed formula + synbioticsInfant formula with added synbiotics-
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Faecel levels of Bifidobacteria17 weeks

Levels of Bifidobacteria at 17 weeks of age - stool sample

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Faecal levels of Bifidobacteria and adult-like bacterial cluster52 weeks

Levels of Bifidobacteria and adult-like bacterial cluster up to 52 weeks of age - stool sample

IgE-mediated allergic manifestations52 weeks

IgE-mediated allergic manifestations up to 52 weeks of age - blood sample

Trial Locations

Locations (59)

Juvenalia, s.r.o.

🇸🇰

Dunajská Streda, Slovakia

GASTOL s.r.o.

🇸🇰

Prešov, Slovakia

Fakultna nemocnica Nitra

🇸🇰

Nitra, Slovakia

Univerzitna nemocnica Martin

🇸🇰

Martin, Slovakia

National University Hospital

🇸🇬

Singapore, Singapore

PEGYS s.r.o.

🇸🇰

Dolný Kubín, Slovakia

GASTREN, spol. s.r.o.

🇸🇰

Košice, Slovakia

PEDMAN s.r.o.

🇸🇰

Martin, Slovakia

Algemeen Stedelijk Ziekenhuis

🇧🇪

Aalst, Belgium

MUDr. Daniel Drazan, prakticky lekar pro deti a dorost

🇨🇿

Praha, Czechia

Prehospital Med Kft

🇭🇺

Miskolc, Hungary

UOC Allergologia, Osp. Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS;

🇮🇹

Roma, Italy

Ospdale Maggiore Policlinico, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda

🇮🇹

Milano, Italy

Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin

🇩🇪

Berlin, Germany

Ustav pro peci o matku a dite

🇨🇿

Praha, Czechia

Hillel Yaffe Medical center

🇮🇱

Hadera, Israel

Fakultna nemocnica Trencin

🇸🇰

Trenčín, Slovakia

Ambulancia vseobecneho lekara pre deti a dorast

🇸🇰

Zlaté Moravce, Slovakia

Deventer Ziekenhuis

🇳🇱

Deventer, Netherlands

EB UtrechtResearch BV

🇳🇱

Utrecht, Netherlands

IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Università degli studi di Pavi

🇮🇹

Pavia, Italy

Schneider Children's Medical

🇮🇱

Petah tikva, Israel

Pestszentimrei Gyermekrendelő / Elitance Duo Kft.

🇭🇺

Budapest, Hungary

Kaplan Medical Center

🇮🇱

Reẖovot, Israel

Futurenest Kft.

🇭🇺

Miskolc, Hungary

Centre Hospitalier Régional de Namur

🇧🇪

Namur, Belgium

Rambam Health Care Campus

🇮🇱

Haifa, Israel

Rózsavölgyi Gyermekháziorvosi Rendelő / CEBA Egészségügyi Bt.

🇭🇺

Budapest, Hungary

Amphia Ziekenhuis

🇳🇱

Breda, Brabant, Netherlands

VU University Medical Center

🇳🇱

Amsterdam, Netherlands

PT&R

🇳🇱

Beek, Netherlands

Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center

🇮🇱

Tel Aviv, Israel

Royal London Hospital

🇬🇧

London, United Kingdom

China Medical University Hospital

🇨🇳

Taichung, Taiwan

Instituto Hispalense de Pediatría

🇪🇸

Sevilla, Spain

LinKou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital

🇨🇳

Taoyuan, Taiwan

Hospital HLA Inmaculada Servicio de Pediatría

🇪🇸

Granada, Spain

Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves

🇪🇸

Granada, Spain

Hospital Universitari i Politecnic La Fe

🇪🇸

Valencia, Spain

Meir Medical Center

🇮🇱

Kfar Saba, Israel

Dr. Kenessey Albert Korhaz-Rendelointezet

🇭🇺

Balassagyarmat, Hungary

Gyermekorvosi Rendelő

🇭🇺

Debrecen, Hungary

Kanizsai Dorottya Korhaz

🇭🇺

Nagykanizsa, Hungary

Házi Gyermekorvosi Rendelő /Babadoki Kft.

🇭🇺

Szeged, Hungary

Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc

🇧🇪

Brussels, Belgium

Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel

🇧🇪

Brussels, Belgium

MUDr. Jitka Fabianova

🇨🇿

Praha, Czechia

Prakticky lekar pro deti a dorost

🇨🇿

Praha, Czechia

Nemocnice Strakonice, a.s.

🇨🇿

Strakonice, Czechia

Kandang Kerbau Women's and Children's Hospital

🇸🇬

Singapore, Singapore

Hospital Materno Infantil La Paz

🇪🇸

Madrid, Spain

Hospital Sant Joan de Deu

🇪🇸

Manresa, Spain

Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago

🇪🇸

Santiago De Compostela, Spain

University College Hospital

🇬🇧

London, United Kingdom

Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

🇬🇧

Manchester, United Kingdom

The Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

🇬🇧

Newcastle, United Kingdom

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

🇬🇧

Southampton, United Kingdom

Queen Mary Hospital

🇭🇰

Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Prince of Wales Hospital

🇭🇰

Shatin, Hong Kong

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