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NCT Number: NCT06288503

Hydrolysed Rice Formula Study

This non-inferiority study aims to determine whether a hydrolysed rice protein formula is as effective as a cow's milk protein based extensively hydrolysed formula using a double-blind, randomised-controlled design over a 28-day intervention period followed by a 2-month follow-up period in infants 0-13 months of age presenting with symptoms/clinical history suggestive of cow's milk allergy. The primary outcome is growth, and secondary outcomes are gastrointestinal tolerance, and differences in intake, allergic symptoms, parental QOL, acceptability, dietary intake, and safety.

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Key information

Age range

0 month–13 month

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Gloucestershire Royal NHS Trust, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom

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Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Male or female
  • Aged 0-13 months
  • Presenting to primary or secondary care with symptoms/clinical history suggestive of CMA
  • Will receive at least 30% of energy requirements from the study formula
  • Written informed consent from parent/carer

Exclusion criteria

  • Severe CMA (including anaphylaxis) and/or requiring an AAF
  • Faltering growth (based on NICE guidelines36 - Appendix 1)
  • Previous allergy to any study product ingredients (including whey hydrolysate and/or rice)
  • Primary lactose intolerance
  • Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome (FPIES)
  • Exclusively breast fed
  • Severe concurrent or chronic disease or genetic syndrome that may impact growth or other outcomes
  • Severe hepatic or renal insufficiency
  • Premature infants (born <37 weeks) with a corrected age of <4 weeks
  • Requirement for any parenteral nutrition
  • Participation in other clinical intervention studies within 1 month of recruitment
  • Concern around the willingness/ability of the caregiver to comply with the study protocol and/or study requirements

Treatment and study plan

Hydrolysed Rice Protein Formula

Other

Infants randomised onto this arm will be taking the hydrolysed rice protein formula, with a minimum prescription of 30% of their energy requirements.

Cow's Milk Based Extensively Hydrolysed Formula

Other

Infants randomised onto this arm will be taking the control product, with a minimum prescription of 30% of their energy requirements.

Primary outcomes

  1. Growth

    Time frame: Baseline to three months

    At Baseline (Day 1), End of Intervention (Day 31), and Follow-Up (Day 87) assessments, length and head circumference will be measured using standard measures to the nearest 0.1cm. Body weight (kg) will also be measured, where possible, by the investigating Dietitian/relevant HCP using standard methods to the nearest 0.1kg using a weighing scale without heavy clothing. These measures will be used to calculate z-scores (i.e., weight-for-length, weight, length, and head circumference; based on UK-WHO 2006 growth reference data for children 0-4 years old) and plotted on growth charts for centile measurement.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Gastrointestinal Tolerance

    Time frame: Baseline to three months

    Gastrointestinal tolerance will be recorded by the parent/carer at Baseline Assessment and Baseline Days 1-3, where this period is undertaken by the patient), during the Intervention Period on Days 10, 17, 24, and 29-31, and during the 2-month Follow-Up period on Days 85-87. Tolerance will be recorded using a standardised GI tolerance questionnaire.

  2. Stool frequency and consistency

    Time frame: Baseline to three months

    Stool frequency and consistency (Brussels Infant and Toddler Stool Scale) will be recorded by the parent/carer at Baseline on Days 1-3 (where applicable), as well as on during the Intervention Period on Days 10, 17, 24, and 29-31, and during the 2-month Follow-Up on Days 85-87.

  3. Study Product Intake

    Time frame: Baseline to three months

    Intake of study product will be assessed daily throughout the Baseline and Intervention Periods by the parent/carer by recording how much feed was consumed. During the 2-month Follow-Up, intake of study product will be assessed for 3 days (Days 84-87). The daily minimum target intake amount prescribed by the investigating Dietitian/relevant HCP will be recorded at the start of the study, and any changes to this prescription will be noted.

  4. Patient Orientated Scoring Atopic Dermatitis Symptoms (PO-SCORAD)

    Time frame: Baseline to three months

    A self-evaluation tool will be completed by the parent/carer on the day of the Baseline Assessment (Day 1), on Days 10 and 31 during the Intervention Period, and on Day 87 during the 2-month Follow-Up to give an indication of severity of atopic dermatitis (where present). This will involve tick box questions and a diagram of an infant for the parent/carer to highlight presence of dermatitis.

  5. Patient Reported Atopic Symptoms

    Time frame: Baseline to three months

    The parent/carer will be asked to indicate their perception of the presence and severity of several common atopic symptoms for their child (wheezing, itchy/watery eyes, crying frequency, sneezing/runny/blocked nose, sleep quality) via 100mm visual analogue scales, with 100mm indicating more severe symptoms. These will be recorded on at Baseline Assessment (Day 1), on Day 3, Days 10, 17, 24, and 31 during the Intervention Period, and on Day 87 during the Follow-Up Period.

  6. Cow's Milk Related Symptom Score

    Time frame: Baseline to three months

    Infants' stool pattern, the presence and intensity of crying and regurgitation, as well as skin and respiratory manifestations will be assessed via the CoMiSS™ tool by the investigating Dietitian/relevant HCP at the Baseline (Day 1), End of Intervention (Day 31), and Follow-Up (Day 87) Assessments. Total scores range from 0-33, with higher number indicating more severe symptoms of cow's milk allergy.

  7. Food Allergy Quality of Life-Parental Burden (FAQL-PB)

    Time frame: Baseline to three months

    Parental measures of QOL (related to their child's allergy) will be assessed via a standardised validated questionnaire on the day of the Baseline Assessment (Day 1), on the final day of the Intervention Period (Day 31), and at the end of the Follow-Up Period (Day 87).

  8. Acceptability of the Study Formula

    Time frame: Baseline to three months

    Feed acceptability (e.g., ease of use, liking) will be assessed at Baseline (Day 3, where applicable), during the Intervention Period on Days 10 and 31, and at the end of the Follow-Up period on Day 87, via a Likert-style questionnaire completed by the parent/carer (strongly disagree/disagree/don't know/agree/strongly agree)

  9. Nutrient Intake (Energy, Protein, Micronutrients)

    Time frame: Baseline to three months

    Nutrient intake, including intake of all nutrition provided (including the study product, any other enteral feeding, foods, drinks etc.) will be recorded via a 24hr dietary recall conducted by the investigating Dietitian/relevant HCP at the Baseline (Day 1), Day 10, End of Intervention (Day 31), and Follow-Up (Day 87) Assessments. Dietary data will be inputted by the study team into nutritional software to estimate energy and macro- and micronutrient intakes.

  10. Dietetic Goal

    Time frame: Baseline to three months

    A dietetic goal (e.g., improve tolerance, reduce atopic symptoms, maintain symptom control, maintain normal growth) will be set by the investigating Dietitian/relevant HCP at the Baseline Assessment (Day 1) for each infant. At the End of Intervention Assessment (Day 31), the investigating Dietitian/relevant HCP will assess and note if the dietetic goal was met (yes/no) and will set a dietetic goal for the Follow-Up Period. At the Follow-Up Assessment (Day 87), the investigating Dietitian/relevant HCP will assess and note if the dietetic goal was met (yes/no).

  11. Overall Safety

    Time frame: Through study completion, an average of three months

    All adverse events will be recorded throughout the study.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Gary P Hubbard, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

07738024720

Isabel Evans, MSc

CONTACT

[email protected]

07385000738

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Nutricia UK Ltd

Industry

Registry information

Official study title

A Double-blind, Randomised-controlled Trial Evaluating a Hydrolysed Rice Formula Compared to a Cow's Milk Protein-based Extensively Hydrolysed Formula in Infants With Cow's Milk Allergy

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Mar 1, 2024
Registry last updated
Apr 13, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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