Whey formula peptides and allergy prevention over time
What it found
In rats and lab tests, a specific partially hydrolyzed whey-based infant formula consistently reduced markers of milk allergy, and its peptide profile stayed stable across batches made over 10 years.
Other partially hydrolyzed whey formulas did not all behave the same way.
What they found
Animal and lab studies
Allergenicity in lab tests
Three batches of the specific formula reduced the relative serotonin release by more than 3 logs (1000 fold) compared to intact beta-lactoglobulin. This suggests a consistent decrease in lab-measured allergenicity.
Oral tolerance in rats
In a meta-analysis of ten rat trials with twelve batches of the specific formula, beta-lactoglobulin-specific IgE levels dropped by 0.76 logs on average. Two batches given to rats reduced specific IgE by 0.67 logs compared to water.
Comparing other formulas
Two other partially hydrolyzed whey formulas did not significantly reduce beta-lactoglobulin-specific IgE in rats. One of these had a lower median peptide size but higher residual allergenicity.
HLA-binding peptides
In a human cell line, 33 peptides from the specific formula could bind to HLA-DR molecules. These covered nine regions of the beta-lactoglobulin sequence, including some previously identified as tolerogenic.
Other findings
Peptide size stability
Across 27 batches of the specific formula made over 10 years, the median peptide molecular weight was 800 plus or minus 400 Da. The peptide size profile stayed similar over time.
Peptide overlap
The peptide composition of three formulas with higher median molecular weight overlapped by only 11.7% to 24.2%. This means most peptides differed between formulas.
What the authors conclude
“Data presented here and elsewhere demonstrate that not all pHF-W are the same regarding their tolerogenic potential.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that not all partially hydrolyzed whey formulas are the same in their tolerogenic potential.
- They advise that tolerogenic potential and allergic sensitization risk must not be assigned to a type of formula, but only to formulas supported by relevant clinical studies.
- They state that the specific formula is stable over time for peptide size distribution and function based on lab and animal studies.
How it was done
Partially hydrolyzed whey-based formula is recommended for infants with a family history of allergy who cannot breastfeed, but meta-analyses of different such formulas give conflicting results. The authors wanted to see whether the method of hydrolysis, not just the degree, affects allergy-related properties.
They analyzed 27 batches of one specific partially hydrolyzed whey formula made between 2001 and 2014, plus three other such formulas. They measured peptide size, residual beta-lactoglobulin allergenicity in lab tests, and the ability to reduce allergic sensitization in rats fed the formula for 19 days before sensitization.
What it can’t tell you
- These are animal and lab studies. They cannot show what happens in people.
- The rat model cannot prove that the same effects on allergy risk occur in infants.
- The study did not follow infants over time to see if they develop allergies.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- The authors C.B., T.B., M.A., S.N., A.P., L.D., C.M.-P., S.L., L.M. were all employed by Société des Produits Nestléduring the completion of the work. R.A. received funding from Nestlé Nutrition.
- Authors work at
- Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences, Switzerland; Nestlé Institute of Food Safety & Analytical Sciences, Switzerland
The paper
- Title
- Peptide Characterization and Functional Stability of a Partially Hydrolyzed Whey-Based Formula over Time
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Animals and lab studies
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Bourdeau T, Affolter M, Dupuis L, et al (2021). Peptide Characterization and Functional Stability of a Partially Hydrolyzed Whey-Based Formula over Time. Nutrients. doi:10.3390/nu13093011Free full textPubMed 34578889DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error