Soya lecithin in children with delayed soya allergy
What it found
In a small trial in children with a delayed gut reaction to soya, most children did not react to soya lecithin eaten in biscuits.
One child had a slight reaction to the lecithin.
What they found
Studies in people
Reactions reported
Parents reported reactions in six cases: five to the placebo and one to the soya lecithin. The authors say there was no statistical difference between the groups.
Children who took part
Twenty-two children were recruited, 16 boys, with a median age of 44 months (range 21 to 58 months). Only 20 completed the full study.
What the authors conclude
- They note that although single cases may react to soya lecithin, one child in this study had a slight reaction.
How it was done
Soya lecithin is used in many foods children eat. Children with delayed allergies who already avoid milk and soya would have a much more limited diet if they also had to avoid soya lecithin.
Twenty-two children aged 8 months to 5 years with confirmed non-IgE-mediated gastrointestinal soya allergy took part. They were randomly given either soya lecithin (1.5 g per day) or a placebo in a biscuit for 1 week, then after a 1-week washout switched to the other for 1 week. Parents recorded symptoms before the study and at the end of each week.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This was a small trial with 20 children completing it, so the results may not apply to all children with this allergy.
- The trial lasted only 1 week for each period, so it cannot show what happens over longer periods.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Teachers College of Columbia University, USA; Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, UK; Great Ormond Street Hospital, UK
The paper
- Title
- Tolerance of soya lecithin in children with non-immunoglobulin E-mediated soya allergy: a randomised, double-blind, cross-over trial
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Gholmie Y, Lozinsky AC, Godwin H, et al (2020). Tolerance of soya lecithin in children with non-immunoglobulin E-mediated soya allergy: a randomised, double-blind, cross-over trial. Journal of human nutrition and dietetics. doi:10.1111/jhn.12708PubMed 31603281DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error