Response to poliovirus immunization and type of feeding in babies of atopic families

The aim of the present study was to investigate the antibody response to oral poliovirus immunization, and to evaluate the infection morbidity in a group of infants with a positive family history of atopy who were soy-protein-formula fed during the first 6 months of life. We have selected and followed from birth to 4 yr, 107 babies, 18 of whom were exclusively soy-protein-formula fed during the first 6 months of life. All infants were seen at our clinic at the ages of 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months, and once-a-year afterwards. They regularly received the oral vaccine against polioviruses at the ages of 3, 5 and 12 months. At age 6, 12 and 24 months, poliovirus type 1, 2 and 3 antibodies were detected. There was no significant difference of seroconversion in the babies, breast, soy or breast and soy fed. Furthermore, no increase in infection morbidity was observed in the soy-protein-formula fed infants. Our data shows that soy-protein-formula feeding in the first 6 months of life does not induce any abnormal antibody response to the oral poliovirus vaccination, as well as no increase in infection morbidity.