FAQ's

About the GIraFFE Study

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory skin disorder affecting approximately one in five children worldwide, with around 80% of cases developing during the first year of life. AD impacts sleep, development and quality of life and increases the risk of developing other allergic conditions, including food allergy, asthma and hay fever. Despite its burden, relatively little research had investigated whether infant formula composition could influence the incidence of AD.

An earlier clinical study suggested that Whole Goat Milk Formula (WGF) may protect infants from atopic dermatitis. A post hoc analysis showed a trend towards approximately one-third lower cumulative incidence of AD in infants receiving WGF compared with standard whey-adjusted cow milk formula. Building on these findings, together with the unique characteristics of Dairy Goat Co-operative’s Whole Goat Milk Formula (WGF), the GIraFFE Study was undertaken.

The GIraFFE Study aimed to investigate the effect of infant feeding with Whole Goat Milk Formula (WGF), compared with standard cow milk formula (CF), on the cumulative incidence of atopic dermatitis during the first 12 months of life.

Secondary objectives included assessment of growth, gastrointestinal symptoms, sleep, nutrition, quality of life, gut microbiome profile and biochemical, metabolic and genetic markers. Participants continue to be followed until 5 years of age.

The GIraFFE Study was a two-arm, parallel, multicentre, double-blind, randomised, controlled trial conducted across six study centres in Spain and four in Poland.

A total of 2,132 healthy, term, formula-fed infants were enrolled within three months of birth. Infants were randomly assigned to receive either Whole Goat Milk Formula (WGF) or standard cow milk formula. The intervention formulas were matched for energy and nutrient composition.

The GIraFFE Study is one of the largest paediatric nutrition intervention studies conducted and the only study specifically designed to investigate the impact of Whole Goat Milk Formula (WGF), compared with standard cow milk formula, on the incidence of atopic dermatitis in infants up to 12 months of age.

Understanding the Clinical Results

The GIraFFE Study used adapted UK Working Party (UKWP) diagnostic criteria assessed by trained study personnel, together with doctor-diagnosed atopic dermatitis and additional UKWP assessments during scheduled telephone follow-up, to provide a comprehensive assessment throughout the first year of life.

Atopic dermatitis can develop at any point during infancy and may not always be present during scheduled study visits. The GIraFFE Study therefore included multiple complementary outcome measures to provide a comprehensive assessment throughout the first year of life, including diagnoses made by trained study personnel and by doctors during routine clinical care.

Doctor-diagnosed AD (AD Doctor) includes any diagnosis of atopic dermatitis made by a healthcare professional during the intervention period up to 12 months of age. This outcome reflects routine clinical practice and captures cases that may occur between scheduled study visits.

The study included a pre-specified subgroup analysis of infants with at least one parent with a history of atopic dermatitis. A parental history of AD increases an infant’s risk of developing atopic dermatitis by approximately two to three times, making this an important population to investigate.

A detailed summary of the study findings, together with the published clinical study, can be viewed belo

View Clinical Results

Atopic Dermatitis (AD) & Eczema

AD, also known as eczema, is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition with itchy, red, dry skin. It typically begins in early childhood with 80% of the first symptoms occurring within the first year of life . The causes of AD are multifactorial and include a genetic predisposition, particularly family history, immune system dysfunction and environmental or nutritional triggers .

Around 80% of atopic dermatitis develops during the first year of life. Early onset is associated with a greater burden of disease and an increased likelihood of progression to other allergic conditions.

A family history of atopic dermatitis is the strongest known risk factor, increasing an infant’s risk by approximately two to three times. Both genetic and environmental factors contribute to disease development.

Atopic dermatitis is associated with intense itching, recurrent eczematous skin lesions and recurrent flare-ups. The condition can affect a child’s development, sleep and quality of life, while also impacting the wellbeing of the whole family. Reducing the burden of atopic dermatitis has therefore become an important focus of clinical research.

Atopic dermatitis is often the first step in the progression of allergic disease, commonly referred to as the allergic march. Infants who develop atopic dermatitis are at increased risk of developing other allergic conditions later in childhood, including food allergy, asthma and hay fever. This association is one of the reasons why preventing atopic dermatitis has become an important area of clinical research.

Whole Goat Milk Formula (WGF)

Whole Goat Milk Formula (WGF) refers to infant formula in which whole goat milk provides the sole milk protein source, with approximately 50% of total fat naturally derived from goat milk fat.

Unlike conventional whey-adjusted formulas, Whole Goat Milk Formula retains the natural 20:80 whey:casein ratio of goat milk and does not require added whey protein.

The Whole Goat Milk Formula (WGF) investigated in the GIraFFE Study had the following defining characteristics:

  • Whole goat milk as the sole milk protein source
  • No added whey protein
  • Approximately 50% of total fat naturally derived from goat milk fat
  • The natural 20:80 whey:casein ratio of goat milk
 

These characteristics define the formulation that was evaluated in the GIraFFE Study and should be considered when interpreting the published clinical evidence.

The clinical studies referenced on this website were conducted using a Whole Goat Milk Formula (WGF) manufactured by Dairy Goat Co-operative (New Zealand).

Nannycare Whole Goat Milk Formula is manufactured by Dairy Goat Co-operative (New Zealand) and has a formulation closely equivalent to that used in these studies. This supports the scientific relevance of the published clinical findings to the Nannycare formulation.

No. The GIraFFE Study investigated a specific Whole Goat Milk Formula manufactured by Dairy Goat Co-operative (New Zealand). The findings should therefore be interpreted in the context of the formulation that was studied and should not be assumed to apply to other goat milk formulas with different formulations.

When interpreting clinical research, it is important to consider the specific formula that was evaluated rather than assuming findings can be extrapolated to all products within a category.

Clinical studies evaluate the safety and efficacy of a specific formulation. Differences in milk protein source, whey addition, milk fat content and overall composition should be considered when interpreting published clinical evidence.

For this reason, the findings of the GIraFFE Study should be interpreted in relation to the Whole Goat Milk Formula (WGF) that was investigated.

This content you are accessing is intended for healthcare professionals only

If you are not a healthcare professional, please visit our dedicated consumer website at www.nannycare.co.uk.

Breastfeeding is best for babies. Introducing partial bottle feeding could negatively affect breastfeeding. Professional advice should be sought before using an infant formula. Good maternal nutrition is important for breastfeeding, and reversing a decision not to breastfeed can be difficult.

Proper use of an infant formula product is important to the health of the infant. Infant formulas should be used as directed.

All information on the following pages about infant formulas is provided for educational and informational purposes only.

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