About this trial
This is a prospective, multi-center, randomized, open-label, active-controlled, parallel-group, non-inferiority study. The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of an extensively hydrolyzed formula (eHF) in treating infants with mild-to-moderate cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA).
CMPA is a common condition in babies where the immune system reacts to proteins in cow's milk, causing symptoms affecting the skin (such as eczema or hives), gastrointestinal tract (such as vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation), and respiratory system (such as runny nose or wheezing).
The study plans to enroll 124 infants aged 0-5 months who have been diagnosed with mild-to-moderate CMPA by a physician based on established diagnostic criteria.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
1. Does this new formula effectively relieve CMPA symptoms? Relief is defined as a reduction in severity from baseline for at least one scored symptom (skin, gastrointestinal, or respiratory) observed during study visits. The overall symptom relief rate at Day 28 will be calculated as: (number of effective cases / total number of cases) × 100%. 2. What medical problems or side effects do infants experience when using this formula? Researchers will compare the new formula (Feihe Extensively Hydrolyzed Formula) to an already approved extensively hydrolyzed formula (a standard treatment for CMPA) to see if the new formula works as well (non-inferiority).
Eligible participants will be randomly assigned (like drawing lots) in a 1:1 ratio to either the test group or the control group. The randomization process will be stratified by age: infants aged \>0 to ≤2 months (targeting 40% of participants) and infants aged \>2 to ≤5 months (targeting 60% of participants). A centralized interactive web response system (IWRS) will be used to ensure unbiased assignment.
Study Duration and Visits:
The study will last approximately 28 days. After the initial screening visit (V0), participants will need to visit the clinic 3 times:
* Visit 1 (V1, Day 0, before taking the study product): Baseline assessments * Visit 2 (V2, Day 14 ± 1 day): Follow-up assessments * Visit 3 (V3, Day 28 ± 1 day): Final assessments
What Participants Will Do:
* Receive study formula: At V1 and V2, researchers will provide enough formula until the next visit. At V2 and V3, parents should return any empty cans. * Undergo medical assessments: At each visit (V1, V2, V3), the doctor will:
* Assess atopic dermatitis severity using the SCORAD tool (combining physical examination with parent-reported itching and sleep quality) * Assess nasal and eye symptoms (and asthma symptoms, if applicable) using the VAS * Assess gastrointestinal, skin, and respiratory symptoms using the CoMiSS * At the final visit (V3), evaluate overall treatment effectiveness based on symptom improvement * Have growth measurements taken: At each visit, researchers will measure the infant's weight (in grams), length (in cm), and head circumference (in cm). Growth velocity and Z-scores will be calculated. * Complete parent questionnaires: At each visit, parents will:
* Report on the infant's itching and sleep for the SCORAD assessment * Complete the IGSQ to assess gastrointestinal symptoms * Use the BSFS pictures to help describe the infant's stool form * Collect stool samples: Before each visit (V1, V2, V3), parents will collect a small stool sample (about 4-5 grams) using a provided kit. These samples will be tested for routine analysis and occult blood. * Maintain a feeding diary: From V1 to V3, parents will keep a daily diary recording the amount of study formula consumed and any breastfeeding. * Report health events: Inform the study team of any illnesses, discomfort, or medications the infant experiences throughout the study. * Undergo optional bone density testing: At each visit, an ultrasound bone density measurement may be performed at the clinic's discretion.
Eligibility criteria
This trial does not accept healthy volunteersQualifiers
Born at 37-42 weeks gestation with birth weight 2500-4000 g
Aged 0 to 5 months at enrollment
Symptoms: Clear allergic reactions (e.g., urticaria, vomiting, dyspnea) following exposure to cow's milk or dairy products
Serum cow's milk-specific IgE >0.7 kIU/L
Disqualifiers
Recent onset of allergic symptoms due to causes other than cow's milk protein (including other food allergens, inhalant allergies, contact allergies, drug allergies, insect bite allergies, etc.)
Use of any extensively hydrolyzed formula (eHF) or amino acid formula (AAF) for the treatment of cow's milk protein allergy within 1 month prior to enrollment
Known intolerance to ingredients in the study formula (e.g., lactose intolerance)
Severe cow's milk protein allergy requiring treatment with amino acid formula (AAF)
Trial design
Parallel
Treatments tested in this trial
Feihe Extensively Hydrolyzed Formula
Other interventionFeihe Extensively Hydrolyzed Formula: Nutritional Characteristics: Protein is extensively hydrolyzed into peptides and amino acids to reduce allergenicity. Enriched with MCT for rapid energy, DHA/ARA for neurodevelopment, and OPO for improved fatty acid and calcium absorption. Contains vitamins and minerals to meet full nutritional needs. Dosage and Administration: To be used under medical supervision. Dosage is individualized based on infant's age, weight, and clinical condition. Standard reconstitution: 3 level scoops (approx. 4.5 g/scoop) added to 90 mL of potable water. Intended as a sole source of nutrition for infants up to 6 months; for older infants, complementary foods may be added as advised by a physician.
Nestlé Extensively Hydrolyzed Formula
Other interventionNestlé Extensively Hydrolyzed Formula: Nutritional Characteristics: Protein is extensively hydrolyzed into peptides and amino acids to reduce allergenicity. Enriched with MCT for rapid energy, DHA/ARA for neurodevelopment, and OPO for improved fatty acid and calcium absorption. Contains 26 vitamins and minerals to meet full nutritional needs. Dosage and Administration: To be used under medical supervision. Dosage is individualized. Standard reconstitution: 13.5 g powder (3 level scoops, approx. 4.5 g/scoop) added to 90 mL of cooled boiled water to obtain 100 mL of feed. Intended as a sole source of nutrition for infants up to 6 months with food protein allergy; for older infants, complementary foods may be added under medical guidance.
Treatment groups
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
Symptom Relief Rate of Cow's Milk Protein Allergy (CMPA)
The proportion of infants showing improvement in CMPA symptoms. Effectiveness is defined as a reduction in severity from baseline for at least one scored symptom (skin, gastrointestinal, or respiratory) observed during study visits. No improvement in any symptoms or signs during the intervention is considered ineffective. The total effective rate is calculated as: (number of effective cases / total number of cases) × 100%.
Secondary outcomes
Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) Score
Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) score assessing the severity of atopic dermatitis by combining physician assessment of lesion extent and intensity with parent-reported pruritus and sleep loss.
Infant Gastrointestinal Symptom Questionnaire (IGSQ) Score
Infant Gastrointestinal Symptom Questionnaire (IGSQ) total score assessing gastrointestinal symptoms including stooling, spitting up/vomiting, crying, fussiness/irritability, and gas.
Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) Score
Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score assessing nasal symptoms (sneezing, rhinorrhea, nasal itching, congestion) and ocular symptoms (itching, foreign body sensation, redness, lacrimation). For infants with comorbid asthma, asthma symptoms (wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, chest tightness) are also recorded. Based on objective symptoms and signs, the physician evaluates improvement in individual symptom scores as well as total scores for nasal, ocular, and asthma symptoms.
Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS) Score
Assessment of stool form. This scale is a 7-point visual chart featuring pictorial representations and textual descriptions of different stool forms, ranging from Type 1 (separate hard lumps) to Type 7 (watery stool).
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