Fascinating to read about the Chandra expose.  Thanks to Janice for sending 
in the website address so we could read all about it!  I did, and was so 
intrigued that I looked up some of this man's work.  He was certainly 
prolific.  But I wonder if there's more to this than meets the eye.  He was 
also very positive about breastfeeding compared to formula feeding in what 
looks like his area of expertise, atopic disease.  Pasting below a few 
abstracts, so everyone can judge for themselves.

Pamela Morrison IBCLC
---------------

BMJ. 1989 Jul 22;299(6693):228-30.
Influence of maternal diet during lactation and use of formula feeds on 
development of atopic eczema in high risk infants.
Chandra RK, Puri S, Hamed A.
Memorial University of Newfoundland, Janeway Child Health Centre, Canada.

OBJECTIVE--To examine the effects of maternal diet during lactation and the 
use of formula feeds on the development of atopic eczema in infants at 
risk. DESIGN--Mothers who planned to breast feed exclusively were randomly 
allocated to either a restricted diet (avoiding milk and other dairy 
products, eggs, fish, peanuts, and soybeans) or a diet without 
restrictions. Mothers who did not plan to breast feed were randomly 
allocated to using one of three formula feeds. SETTING--Child health centre 
in Canada. SUBJECTS--97 Mothers who chose to breast feed and 124 mothers 
who did not. INTERVENTIONS--Restricted diet for 49 mothers who breast fed. 
Casein hydrolysate formula, soy milk formula, or cows' milk formula for 
infants not breast fed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE--Development of eczema in 
babies. RESULTS--Infants were followed up over 18 months and examined for 
eczema. Eczema was less common and milder in babies who were breast fed and 
whose mothers were on a restricted diet (11/49 (22%) v 21/48 (48%)). In 
infants fed casein hydrolysate, soy milk, or cows' milk 9/43 (21%), 26/41 
(63%), and 28/40 (70%), respectively, developed atopic eczema. 
CONCLUSIONS--In families with a history of atopic disease [corrected] 
mothers who breast feed should avoid common allergenic foods during 
lactation. If they choose not to breast feed a hydrolysate formula should 
be used.

PIP: To examine the effects of maternal diet during lactation and the use 
of formula feeds on the development of atopic eczema in infants at 
high-risk, a group of 97 mothers who chose to breastfeed and 124 mothers 
who did not were examined at a child health center in Canada. Mothers who 
chose to breastfeed exclusively were randomly allocated to either a 
restricted diet (avoiding milk and other dairy products, eggs, fish, 
peanuts, and soybeans) or a diet without restrictions. Mothers who did not 
plan to breastfeed were randomly allocated to the use of 1 of 3 formula 
feeds. Their choices were either casein hydrolysate formula, soy milk 
formula, or cows' milk formula. Infants were followed for over 18 months 
and examined for eczema. Eczema was less common and milder in babies who 
were breastfed and whose mothers were on a restricted diet (11 of 49 [22%] 
vs 21 of 48 [48%]). In infants fed the casein hydrolysate formula, soy 
milk, or cows' milk, 9 of 43 (21%), 26 of 41 (63%), and 28 of 40 (70%), 
respectively, developed atopic eczema. In families with a history of atopic 
eczema, mothers who breastfed should avoid common allergenic foods during 
lactation. If they choose not to breastfeed, a hydrolysate formula should 
be used. author's modified

-----------------------
  J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 1997 Apr;24(4):380-8.
Five-year follow-up of high-risk infants with family history of allergy who 
were exclusively breast-fed or fed partial whey hydrolysate, soy, and 
conventional cow's milk formulas.
Chandra RK.

BACKGROUND: Allergy is a common cause of illness. The effect of feeding 
different infant formulas on the incidence of atopic disease and food 
allergy was assessed in a prospective randomized double-blind study of 
high-risk infants with a family history of atopy. METHODS: 216 high-risk 
infants whose mothers had elected not to breast-feed were randomized to 
receive exclusively a partial whey hydrolysate formula or a conventional 
cow's milk formula or a soy formula until 6 months of age. Seventy-two high 
risk infants breast-fed for > or = 4 months were also studied. RESULTS: 
Follow-up until 5 years of age showed a significant lowering in the 
cumulative incidence of atopic disease in the breast-fed (odds ratio 0.422 
[0.200-0.891]) and the whey hydrolysate (odds ratio 0.322 [0.159-0.653) 
groups, compared with the conventional cow's milk group. Soy formula was 
not effective (odds ratio 0.759 [0.384-1.501]). The occurrence of both 
eczema and asthma was lowest in the breast-fed and whey hydrolysate groups 
and was comparable in the cow's milk and soy groups. Similar significant 
differences were noted in the 18-60 month period prevalence of eczema and 
asthma. Eczema was less severe in the whey hydrolysate group compared with 
the other groups. Double-blind placebo-controlled food challenges showed a 
lower prevalence of food allergy in the whey hydrolysate group compared 
with the other formula groups. CONCLUSIONS: Exclusive breast-feeding or 
feeding with a partial whey hydrolysate formula is associated with lower 
incidence of atopic disease and food allergy. This is a cost-effective 
approach to the prevention of allergic disease in children.

----------------
  Clin Allergy. 1986 Nov;16(6):563-9.
Influence of maternal food antigen avoidance during pregnancy and lactation 
on incidence of atopic eczema in infants.
Chandra RK, Puri S, Suraiya C, Cheema PS.

One hundred and twenty-one women with history of a previous child with 
atopic disease were randomly allocated during the next pregnancy to antigen 
avoidance or control groups. Dietary advice consisted of almost complete 
exclusion of milk and dairy products, egg, fish, beef and peanut throughout 
pregnancy and lactation. A total of 109 completed the study. Maternal 
antigen avoidance was associated with reduced occurrence of atopic eczema 
and the skin involvement was less extensive and milder. The beneficial 
effect was observed mainly in the breast-fed group. Among the fifty-five 
who completed the trial of antigen avoidance, seventeen infants developed 
atopic eczema, five out of thirty-five who were breast-fed and twelve out 
of twenty who were formula-fed. Among the offspring of fifty-four control 
mothers given no dietary restriction, eczema was observed in twenty-four 
infants, eleven out of thirty-six breast-fed and thirteen of eighteen 
formula-fed. Avoidance of common dietary allergens during pregnancy and 
lactation enhanced the preventive beneficial effect of exclusive breast 
feeding on the incidence of atopic eczema among infants at high risk.
----------------------
Ann Allergy. 1991 Aug;67(2 Pt 1):129-32.
Cumulative incidence of atopic disorders in high risk infants fed whey 
hydrolysate, soy, and conventional cow milk formulas.
Chandra RK, Hamed A.

A recent increase in the prevalence of atopic disorders and the enormous 
costs of management of atopic patients have prompted attempts at 
prevention. We have examined the effect of exclusive breast feeding and of 
feeding different infant formulas on incidence of atopic disease in a 
prospective randomized controlled study. Seventy-two infants were recruited 
into each of the following groups: cow milk whey hydrolysate formula 
(NAN/HA) conventional cow milk formula (Similac), soy-based formula 
(Isomil), and exclusive breast feeding for greater than 4 months. The 
cumulative incidence of atopic eczema, recurrent wheezing, rhinitis, 
gastrointestinal symptoms, and colic were noted. Skin prick tests and 
radioallergosorbent tests for IgE antibodies to milk and soy were 
performed. At 12 and 18 months of age, the incidence of atopic eczema as 
also that of all atopic symptoms was significantly lower and similar in the 
breast-fed and whey hydrolysate groups, compared with the cow milk and soy 
formula groups. IgE antibodies were detected more often in the cow milk and 
soy formula groups, especially the former. Among symptomatic infants, fewer 
skin positive prick tests were seen in the soy group compared with the cow 
milk group. Our observations show that among infants at high risk of 
developing atopic disease because of positive family history, exclusive 
breast feeding or whey hydrolysate formula is associated with a lower 
incidence and thus a delay in the occurrence of allergic disorders compared 
with groups fed conventional cow milk or soy formulas.

---------------------
Ann Allergy. 1989 Aug;63(2):102-6.
Effect of feeding whey hydrolysate, soy and conventional cow milk formulas 
on incidence of atopic disease in high risk infants.
Chandra RK, Singh G, Shridhara B.

The effect of feeding different infant formulas on incidence of atopic 
disease was assessed in a prospective double-blind randomized controlled 
trial among "high risk" infants with family history of atopy among 
first-degree relatives. The incidence of atopic eczema, wheezing, rhinitis, 
gastrointestinal symptoms, and colic was noted and serum IgE antibodies to 
milk were estimated. Seventy-two infants were recruited into each of the 
following groups: cow milk whey hydrolysate formula (NAN/HA), conventional 
cow milk formula (Similac), soy-based formula (Isomil), and exclusive 
breast feeding for greater than or equal to 4 months. The number of infants 
who exited for reasons other than atopy and were excluded from analysis 
were 4, 5, 4, and 12 in the four groups, respectively. The incidence of one 
or more symptoms of possible allergic etiology was five of 68 infants fed 
NAN/HA, 24 of 67 infants fed Similac, 25 of 68 infants fed Isomil, and 12 
of 60 breast-fed infants. Among symptomatic infants, skin prick test to 
milk proteins was positive in four out of five infants fed NAN/HA, 16 of 24 
fed Similac, 2 of 25 fed Isomil, and 7 of 12 breast-fed. IgE antibodies to 
milk were found in 2 of 68, 9 of 67, 0 of 68, and 6 of 60 infants in the 
four groups, respectively. It is concluded that exclusive breast feeding 
for more than 4 months is partially protective against the development of 
atopic disease among high risk infants.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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