Fuente: "milk OR dairy products" Sci Rep. 2026 Jun 19;16(1):19169. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-56951-2.ABSTRACTTo explore the correlation between fecal Eosinophil Cationic Protein (ECP) and Cow's Milk Protein Allergy (CMPA) in extremely preterm infants, and to evaluate its value in auxiliary diagnosis. This prospective controlled study enrolled 60 extremely preterm infants (< 32 weeks gestational age), comprising 30 with confirmed CMPA and 30 matched controls. Fecal ECP levels and routine blood tests were monitored longitudinally. Statistical analyses included one-way repeated-measures ANOVA and independent samples t-test. Fecal ECP levels in the experimental group were significantly elevated during allergic manifestation (7.08 ± 1.22 µg/g) compared with all other timepoints (all P < 0.001). No significant differences in ECP levels were observed among non-allergic timepoints (all P > 0.05). The control group maintained stable ECP levels throughout all observed periods (P > 0.05). The mean fecal ECP level during non-allergic periods in the experimental group (3.18 ± 1.01 µg/g) showed no significant difference from the control group (P = 0.262). In contrast, ECP levels during active allergy were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.001). Fecal ECP level is significantly positively correlated with CMPA onset in extremely preterm infants, which provides a clinical basis for non-invasive auxiliary diagnosis of CMPA in extremely preterm infants.PMID:42321313 | PMC:PMC13282396 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-026-56951-2