We believe breast milk is the best food for infants. When in consultation with their healthcare professional, mothers and families find that optimal breastfeeding is not possible due to their infant’s medical condition, formulas for special medical purposes play a vital role in providing essential nutrients to infants. We have a global commitment to market breast-milk substitutes responsibly.

This website is about the management of cows’ milk protein allergy and nutritional solutions intended for infants. By continuing on this website, you accept that Nestlé Health Science supplies the information at your own request.

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Althéra® - Extensively Hydrolysed Formula

What is Althéra®?

SMA Althera® is an extensively hydrolysed (eHF) hypoallergenic infant formula that provides first-line relief from the symptoms associated with mild-moderate cows’ milk protein allergy (CMA) and/or multiple food protein allergies.1-2 Althéra® is nutritionally complete* to support growth and development.1-2 With its very low allergenic profile and preferred taste profile over casein-based eHFs, it is designed to support increased acceptability and tolerance in the majority of infants with CMA.1-4

 

For more information on  Althéra® or cows milk allergy:

  • Visit our CMA information page
  • Contact your local representative
  • Contact our Careline on 0800 0 81 81 80

For healthcare professionals only.

KEY FACTS ABOUT ALTHÉRA®: THE DIFFERENCE IS IN THE DETAIL

VERY LOW ALLERGENIC POTENTIAL

Althéra® is the only eHF to demonstrate similar efficacy (symptom relief and growth) to an amino acid formula in a randomised controlled trial1,3†

GUT MICROBIOTA MODULATION

Althéra’s® purified lactose was shown to positively modulate the composition of the gut microbiota5
PREFERRED TASTE VS. CAESIN EHFs

Althéra® has a preferred taste over casein-based eHF formulas which may help aid feeding acceptance and tolerance2,4

EFFICACY

Althéra® has a very low allergenic potential3 and is tolerated by the majority of infants with CMA.1,2 It is the only eHF to show similar efficacy to an amino acid formula (AAF) in an RCT with mild-severe CMA:1,†


VERY LOW ALLERGENIC POTENTIAL

Althéra® is safe and effective for the dietary management of CMA.1-3,9. It has a consistent, very low allergenic potential and has the lowest percentage of large peptides among eHFs in the UK. This may support better clinical outcomes for symptom resolution.3,9,10


Our analyses of eHF samples from manufacturers around the world – which compared peptide size and residual protein content – showed that some eHFs may have different allergenic potentials as well as batch-to-batch inconsistencies.3,9,10


Learn more about the analysis here



Analysis of eHF samples collected from 12 countries and 11 manufacturers (3 manufacturers from the UK)
 N refers to number of samples from different batches tested. | BLG = ß-lactoglobulin (A major whey protein found in cows’ milk)
Graph adapted from Meyer R, Kulslys M, Muraro A, et al. Controversies on special products for managing cows’ milk protein allergy in infants: safety and suitability. EAACI symposium,18 June 2017, Helsinki, Finland. Proceedings published in EMJ Allergy & Immunology, 2017; 2(1): 46-51.

POSITIVE MODULATION OF THE GUT MICROBIOTA

The purified lactose in Althéra® was shown to reduce the counts of pathogenic bacteria, increase the counts of commensal bacteria and increase the concentration of short-chain fatty acids vs. an identical non-lactose containing formula.5 "Allergic infants have an unusual gastrointestinal microbiota"5 and "a lack of lactose in a specialised formula for infants with CMA could have a detrimental effect on microbiome development"9.

INDICATIONS

Indications  

*ACBS approved. Althéra® is for complete nutritional support from birth or supplementary feeding from 6 months and up to 3 years of age for the dietary management of cows‘ milk allergy and/or multiple food protein allergies.

 

Precautions

  • Use under strict medical supervision after full considerations of all the feeding options available, including breastfeeding. For oral or enteral use only.
  • †Althéra® is not recommended where only an amino acid formula is indicated    

Ingredients

Lactose (Milk) , Maltodextrin, Vegetable Oils (Palm, Rapeseed, Coconut, Sunflower), Enzymatically Hydrolysed Whey Protein (Milk) , Minerals (Calcium Glycerophosphate, Magnesium Chloride, Calcium Chloride, Potassium Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate, Calcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Potassium Citrate, Ferrous Sulphate, Zinc Sulphate, Copper Sulphate, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenate, Sodium Chloride), Emulsifier (E472c), Vitamins (C, E, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, B2, A, B1, B6, K1, Folic Acid, D3, B12, Biotin), Crypthecodinium Cohii Oil (DHA), Mortierella Alpina Oil (ARA), Choline Bitartrate, Taurine, L-Histidine, Myo Inositol, L-Carnitine.

ORDERING INFORMATION

Product Product Format PIP Code Nestlé Line Code Case Size
Althera® 1*450g Tin 378-7413 12287423 6

COMPOSITION DATA CARD AND PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS

PDF of composition table

SUPPORT TOOLS

WEANING GUIDE
 
The Althéra® and Alfamino® weaning guide can be downloaded here.
SMILESBACK
 
The SmilesBack mobile app allows parents to keep track of their baby’s symptoms and feeds to support healthcare professionals diagnose or manage CMA. Learn more here.

COMISSTM
 
The CoMiSSTM awareness tool can be used by healthcare professionals to quantify CMA symptoms. Learn more here.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What tin size is Althéra® available in?

  • A 450g re-sealable tin.

 

Does Althéra® contain soy?

  • No, Althéra® is free from soy.

 

How can I contact your careline or a product representative?

  • You can contact us on 0800 0 81 81 80

 

Is lactose intolerance similar to cows’ milk allergy?

  • Lactose intolerance results from a decreased ability to digest and absorb lactose (the sugar present in mammalian milk) due to a lack of the enzyme lactase. It is very rare in infants younger than 5 years6, even in those with CMA. The ESPGHAN guidelines state “adverse reactions to lactose in CMA are not supported in the literature, and complete avoidance of lactose in CMA is no longer warranted”.7 Lactose has been shown to be beneficial for healthy infant growth and development.5,8

 

Where can I learn more about cows’ milk allergy?

  • You can learn more about cows milk allergy on our condition pages, here.

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Mothers should be encouraged to continue breastfeeding even when their infants have cows’ milk protein allergy. This usually requires qualified dietary counselling to completely exclude all sources of cows’ milk protein from the mothers’ diet. If a decision to use a special formula intended for infants is taken, it is important to give instructions on correct preparation methods, emphasising that unboiled water, unsterilised bottles or incorrect dilution can all lead to illness. Formula for special medical purposes intended for infants must be used under medical supervision. For healthcare professionals only.

REFERENCES

  1. Niggemann, B. et al. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2008; 194(4): 348–354.
  2. Vandenplas, Y. et al. Acta Paediatr 2013; 102(8): 990–998.
  3. Meyer, R. et al. EMJ Allergy and Immunol. 2017; 2(1): 46–51.
  4. Data on File. Althéra® versus casein-based formulas. Independent competitive benchmarking test.
  5. Francavilla, R. et al. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2012; 23: 420–27.
  6. Heyman, MB. et al. Pediatrics. 2006; 118(3): 1279–86.
  7. Koletzko, S. et al. J Pediatr Gastroenterology Nut. 2012; 55: 221–229.
  8. Martin, C. et al. Nutrients. 2016; 8: 279.
  9. Madrazo-de la Garza, J. et al. EMJ Allergy and Immunol. 2018; 31(1): 56–58.
  10. Nutten S, et al. Abstract. EAACI Congress, 26-30 May, 2018.
†     Althéra® is not recommended where only an amino acid formula is indicated.
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