Chemical and immunological properties of a protein hydrolysate formula.

Clinical observation suggested that a protein hydrolysate formula designed to serve as an oral elemental diet was capable of producing untoward reactions in some children with malabsorption syndromes caused by cow milk protein allergy. An immunological study of the antigenicity of this hydrolysate was undertaken. Although it is claimed that the hydrolysate is produced from casein, it was shown that it produced, after injection into animals, precipitating antibodies against at least three of the whey proteins. Analysis of the molecular weight of this hydrolysate showed it to contain a polypeptide fraction with molecular weight above 3,850.