FYI Health Tip
Eating baked milk products, such as muffins, builds a tolerance to milk more than avoiding milk products entirely.
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Finally there may be promising news for children suffering from milk allergies. The latest findings suggest that for some children the best way to overcome a milk allergy is to consume more milk. This advice contradicts current recommendations, which recommends lactose intolerant children avoid milk products entirely.
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Loading ...In a recent study, scientists discovered that by eating baked milk products, such as muffins or waffles, the children built a tolerance to milk more quickly than those who avoided milk products completely. Authors proposed that two types of milk allergies affect children; one that is mild and temporary, and another that is more severe and persistent. Tolerance to baked goods containing milk may offer clues as to the severity of the milk allergy.
During the study, a group of children known to be allergic to milk were asked to consume a muffin or waffle containing baked milk. Based on antibody responses, scientists then classified the children as either “baked milk-reactive” or “baked milk-tolerant.” The children who tolerated baked milk were then asked to consume a muffin, waffle or cheese pizza daily for at least six months. Those children who reacted to the baked milk were advised to avoid all milk products entirely and a third group of children, confirmed to have milk allergies, served as controls.
Over the next six months to five years, each group was offered a glass of skim milk before antibody reactions were measured. Surprisingly, 60 percent of the children who were eating daily baked milk showed no reaction to the unheated skim milk. Even more interesting was that those children who regularly ate foods containing baked milk built a tolerance to unheated milk more quickly than those who avoided all forms of milk.
An estimated 2 to 5 percent of children suffer from a milk allergies although most outgrow the allergy by age 6. Symptoms often appear within the first few months of life and may include wheezing, vomiting, hives and digestive problems. Allergy to milk is caused by an immune system response to the milk proteins that trigger production of immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies. The principle behind the baked milk products is that the heat required for baking denatures the proteins, minimizing the allergic reaction.
Although there is no cure, there are ways to lower your child’s risk of developing milk allergies:
- Breastfeeding for at least the first six months of life has been associated with a reduced rate of developing a milk allergy.
- Selecting hypoallergenic formulas such as hydrolyzed or elemental products are less likely to cause a reaction.
- Soy-based formulas are also available for children who can tolerate soy.
- Delaying the introduction of solid foods until six months of age.
- Waiting to introduce dairy until your child’s first birthday.
Although larger studies are needed, the latest findings are encouraging for the many children who have been following current guidelines of eliminating milk products from their diet. Not only is such a diet difficult to follow but it may also lead to deficiencies in nutrients such as calcium, vitamin D and riboflavin.
Interestingly, a recent small study found that children allergic to milk tolerated camel milk instead.
If your child is allergic to milk, be sure to consult a pediatrician or dietitian before making any changes to your child’s diet.
The supporting research
A Way to Potentially Minimize Dairy Allergies
Summary
Allergy to cow’s milk is the most common form of food allergy, affecting about one to three percent of young children. Until now, the only way of escaping allergy to milk was by avoiding all forms of milk and milk products. It has now been found that heating of milk denatures proteins that are responsible for causing allergy. Therefore, the intake of baked milk products induces fewer and milder allergic reactions. In a recent study, researchers investigated whether the consumption of baked milk products for a longer time would produce desensitization towards milk allergens. This could ultimately make the children tolerant to milk products. The authors of this study say, “Addition of dietary baked milk is safe, convenient, and well accepted by patients. Prescribing baked milk products to children with milk allergy represent an important shift in the treatment paradigm for milk allergy.”
Introduction
It is estimated that allergy to cow’s milk is responsible for 13 percent of deaths occurring due to consumption of allergic foodstuff. The production of the IgE type of antibody against milk proteins plays a central role in the manifestation of this allergy. If children with milk allergy strictly avoided consuming milk and milk products, it led to malnutrition. Previous studies have shown that about 78 percent of children develop tolerance to milk by the time they are six years old. However, the mechanism of the development of such a tolerance is still unknown. In the present study, researchers examined the effect of the inclusion of baked milk products in the diet of children who were allergic to milk.
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