Soy Formula & PA

The only link between soy formula and peanuts, IMO, is this (and this is NOT a medical opinion -- Just BTDT)

Caitlin is allergic to milk.
Therefore she drinks soy.
She is also allergic to peanuts (and whatever else..)

Therefore, she has a peanut allergy AND on soy formula -- The two are NOT related, except to say that:

She has multiple food alleries, which include peanut and milk.

end of story. Kwim?

Jason
Caitlin 4-17-00 Allergic to Dairy, Egg, Wheat, Bananas, Grapes, Rye, Sesame, Beef, Garlic, Mustard, Onion, Peas and Avoiding Latex and all Nuts
Sara 2-13-98 NKA (Avoiding Nuts)
Meghan 2-28-03 NKA (Avoiding Nuts)
[url="http://community.webshots.com/user/jtolpin"]http://community.webshots.com/user/jtolpin[/url]

Hi MaryM,

Congratulations!!! I've actually been thinking of you and wondering if you had your baby. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]

Stop the Mommy Guilt. Now. You've got plenty of time for that - just wait 'til he's in High School, lol.

Seriously, I agree with Jason. People with one allergy have a greater chance of being allergic to something else than those without allergies. If he does better on soy, than that's that.

You might want to ask your pediatrician about Nutramigen, Alimentum or even Carnation Good Start. If he doesn't have a true milk allergy, the Carnation might be a solution. Several of my friends used it successfully after their babies couldn't tolerate Similac. If your pediatrician is aware that you have a family history of allergy, s/he might recommend Nutramigen or Alimentum.

So, are you getting any sleep?

Amy

My DS is 5 years and does not have a milk allergy but is Lactose Intolerant. He has a 7 year old PA sister. As a baby he could tolerate milk based formula but EASILY took to Isomil.

My DD had Carnation Good Start after breastfeeding stopped and took it without incident, so it was the first formula I tried with my son. My son either vomited it or refused to drink any cow's milk based formula. My son does not have a peanut allergy (he's had an oral challenge done)nor does he have a Soy allergy, both myself and my son drink Soy milk.Even my PA DD has had some of our Chocolate Soy milk and loved it.

Thank you for all of your responses!

The pediatrician called me back and when I asked him about soy formula/PA he said he had not heard of such a link so I guess I feel better. He knows about my allergies but did not suggest the hypo-allergenic formulas. Maybe I will ask him at our next appt. in a few weeks. Charlie handles the soy pretty well so we will go with that.

Amy - I am doing well. After we switched Charlie to soy and I started to eliminate dairy his disposition changed and he is much happier, so I am happier. Of course I am totally limited in what I can eat now with the PA/TNA and then limited dairy - I swear if peanuts aren't listed as an ingredient, then dairy is - ugh. I am tired, but getting sleep - last night was not so great - we had a big day at the pumpkin patch with some friends and Charlie fell asleep early and was up more at night. We have had a few nights where he has slept for 5-6 hours - I haven't LOL, but still he does pretty well at night and I just laid him down in his crib and he actually went to sleep - this is a little man who is not fond of napping!!!

MaryM:

I asked my allergist too if there was a link b/w PA and soy. He told me there was absolutely no link, and he studied under Dr. Hugh Sampson so I think (well, I hope! [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]) he knows his stuff!

He told me about 5% of the PA population go on to develop soy allergies, but that there was no cause and effect relationship b/w the two.

He agreed with what the others have posted. When someone is allergic to one food, they're more likely to be allergic to someone who has no food allergies. We've been drinking a ton of soy milk for over a year now, and lots of other soy products too. So far, so good. No soy allergy.

Congratulations on your new baby!!!

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Meg, mom to:
Matt 2 yrs. PA,MA,EA
Sean 2 yrs. NKA

I have heard of no link between Soy formula and PA. Our allergist said that when someone has a milk allergy, there is a chance of the developing a soy allergy.

I tried to nurse my son, but when I returned to work we had to supplement. That's when we learned about his milk allergy. We used Carnation Good Start because he didn't seem to react to it. Three years later, our allergist said that he was probably reating to it, just so mildly that it wasn't noticable.

If I had a time machine, I'd go back and use hypoallergenic formula instead. Oh well.

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[b]CURIOUS[/b]

.

[This message has been edited by deegann (edited February 09, 2005).]

Soy formula is *not* recommended by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology due to its allergenic potential in general. Below are their current recommendations:

"Mothers should breast feed their infants for at least four to six months if
possible, since breast milk is much less likely to produce an allergic
reaction and can strengthen the child's immune system. Infants not being
breast fed or fed with breast milk should be fed partially pre-digested,
protein hydrolysate formulas such as Alimentum or Nutramigen rather than
milk- or soy-based formulas.

Infants should not be fed solid foods until they are six months old. When
infants are six to 12 months old, vegetables, rice, meat, and fruit can be
introduced to their diets. Each food should be introduced one at a time so
parents or caregivers can identify and eliminate any foods that cause a
reaction. After the child is one year old, milk, wheat, corn, citrus, and
soy may be added. At two years of age, the child may have egg. Finally, at
age three, fish and peanuts may be introduced." This is from
Tips to Remember: Prevention of Allergies and Asthma in Children
[url="http://www.aaaai.org/patients/publicedmat/tips/preventioninchildren.stm"]http://www.aaaai.org/patients/publicedmat/tips/preventioninchildren.stm[/url]

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Ellen
Allergic to Shellfish/ Mom to Jesse 9/01 who has PA

[This message has been edited by ElleMo (edited October 05, 2004).]

I forgot to mention, I gave my PA son soy formula. I don't know if that's what led to his PA, but I do wonder. I'll never know if it was that, all the peanut butter I ate while pregnant and breast feeding, or if it was genetic (my husband had childhood food allergies).

My allergist recently told me of a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine that DOES establish a link between soy formula and development of PA. The article is "Factors associated with the development of peanut allergy in childhood" by Gideon Lack, Mar 13, 2003, pp 977-985. I haven't yet gotten my hands on the article itself, but plan to. It also finds a link between eczema and use of lotions and ointments with peanut oil in developing PA.

I had to supplement with soy formula while nursing my son as well. I too felt guilty but you deffinately should not. Like you, my baby felt alot better and his disposition changed alot after I started supplementing with soy and took dairy out of my diet. He is allergic to milk and peanuts and I avoid soy now do to the fact his eczema cleared up after we stopped giving it to him ( I did that after he quit taking formula and was tested for food allergies.. he tested positive for soy)

I meant to add, I dont personally think he is allergic to peanuts because I fed him soy.. just as I dont think it has anything to do with my eating a half a dozen peanut butter sandwiches in 9 months.

I have as well heard that there is a possible link between soy and PA and have wondered at times if it was a possible reason for Cade having PA.

When he was around 9 months old we were on Enfamil at the time and he got a little virus throwing up, fever, etc. and the doctor recommended putting him on soy until the virus passed. Well, for some crazy reason I just left him on it until his 1 year birthday and then switched to whole milk.

He's never had a problem with milk at all - drinks about a half a gallon a day now at age 5. So I don't know.

I think in the bottom of my heart I know that his PA has nothing to do with anything that I "did" to him but sometimes I wonder...

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Lynee', mom to:
Cade - PA, egg whites, seasonal
Carson - NKFA, seasonal