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CompletedNCT02062476Updated Sep 2, 2026

Epigenetic Effects Elicited By Lactobacillus GG In Children With Cow's Milk Allergy

An interventional study of Lactobacillus GG in Cow's Milk Allergy, sponsored by Federico II University. Completed at 1 site in Italy. Open to participants aged 4 Months to 48 Months. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-02.

Sponsored by Federico II University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
20
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
4 Months to 48 Months
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Lactobacillus GG (LGG) is able to exert long lasting effects in children with atopic disorders. We have shown that Nutramigen LGG accelerates tolerance acquisition in infants with cow's milk allergy (CMA). The mechanisms of these effects are still largely undefined. The effect of LGG could be related at least in part by the immunoregulatory role played by LGG. This probiotic can balance the generation of cytokines possibly involved in IgE- or non-IgE-mediated CMA (i.e., IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IFN-γ , TGF-beta, and TNF-alfa), which can contribute to modulation of inflammatory processes. We have demonstrated that children with IgE-mediated CMA produce significantly higher level of IL-4 and IL-13 in response to cow's milk protein, and that tolerance is associated with a marked reduction of IL-13 production and a concomitant increased frequency of IFN-γ releasing cells.

Epigenetics studies the heritable (and potentially reversible) changes of the genome inherited from one cell generation to the next which alter gene expression but do not involve changes in primary DNA sequences, highlighting the complexity of the inter-relationship between genetics and nutrition. There are three distinct, but closely interacting, epigenetic mechanisms (histone acetylation, DNA methylation, and non-coding microRNAs) that are responsible for modifying the expression of critical genes associated with physiologic and pathologic processes. The profile of epigenetic modifications associated with Th lineage commitment, coupled with the sensitivity of the early developmental period, has led to speculation that factors that disrupt these pathways may increase the risk of allergic diseases. Specifically, effects on DNA methylation and endogenous histone deacetylase inhibitors acting on specific pathways (Th1 and T regulatory cell differentiation) may favour Th2-associated allergic differentiation. MicroRNAs are another structural components of an epigenetic mechanism of post-transcriptional regulation of messenger RNA translation. It has been recently identified a specific Th2-associated miRNA (miR-21) that is critical for the regulation of Th cell polarization.

02

Conditions studied

  • Cow's Milk Allergy

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03

In context

Milk Hypersensitivity

147 studies on the registry are indexed under Milk Hypersensitivity; 26 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 20 is below the median of 68 across 95 interventional studies indexed under Milk Hypersensitivity.

Browse Milk Hypersensitivity studies →

Lead sponsor

Federico II University is the lead sponsor of 366 studies on the registry; 61 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
4 Months to 48 Months
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Children aged 4 months-4 years with cow's milk allergy

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • age higher than 4 years,
  • concomitant chronic systemic diseases,
  • congenital cardiac defects,
  • active tuberculosis,
  • diseases,
  • immunodeficiency,
  • chronic inflammatory bowel diseases,
  • celiac disease,
  • cystic fibrosis,
  • metabolic diseases,
  • ,
  • chronic pulmonary diseases,
  • malformations of the gastrointestinal tract,
  • suspected eosinophilic esophagitis or eosinophilic enterocolitis,
  • suspected food-protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome,
  • suspected cow's milk protein-induced anaphylaxis.
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(2)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Autoimmune disease

A condition in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease.

Immunotherapy studies often leave out active autoimmune disease, and some name exceptions, such as thyroid disease on replacement hormone. Check the exceptions this study lists.

Cancer (malignancy)

Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.

Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.

05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Enrollment
20 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Treatment with Lactobacillus GG

    extensively hydrolyzed casein formula containing LGG

    Dietary Supplement: Lactobacillus GG

  • No intervention
    Children at diagnosis

Interventions

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Change from baseline to 6 months in tolerance acquisition and epigenetic effects in twenty children with cow's milk allergy

    The investigators will evaluate in children with CMA if the effect of Lactobacillus GG on tolerance acquisition is mediated at least in part by an epigenetic mechanism.

    Time frame: Baseline, at least after 6 months of therapy

07

Study locations

1 site
  • University of Naples Federico II
    Naples, 80131, Italy
08

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Sep 2, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT02062476
Responsible party
Roberto Berni Canani, MD, PhD (MD, PhD, Federico II University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Feb 13, 2014
Start date
Jul 2013
Primary completion
Aug 2014
Completion
Aug 2016
Last update
Sep 2, 2026
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in Feb 2014. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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