Drinking Milk While Breast-Feeding May Reduce Kids’ Food Allergy Risk
Children of mothers who drink relatively more cow s milk during breast-feeding are at reduced risk of developing food allergies. That is the conclusion of researchers from Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, in a new study published in the scientific journal
Nutrients.
The result is based on a survey of more than 500 Swedish women s eating habits and the prevalence of allergies in their children at 1 year of age. We have found that mothers of healthy 1-year-olds consumed more cow s milk during breast-feeding than mothers of allergic 1-year-olds. Though the association is clear, we do not claim that drinking cow s milk would be a general cure for food allergies. says Mia Stråvik, a doctoral student in the division of food science at Chalmers University of Technology, and first author of the study.
The result is based on a survey of more than 500 Swedish women s eating habits and the prevalence of allergies in their children at one year of age. We have found that mothers of healthy one-year-olds consumed more cow s milk during breastfeeding than mothers of allergic one-year-olds. Though the association is clear, we do not claim that drinking cow s milk would be a general cure for food allergies, says Mia Stråvik, doctoral student in the Division of Food Science at Chalmers University of Technology, and first author of the study.
There are many factors behind the risk of food allergy, not least genetic predisposition. Yet, as Mia Stråvik explains, Diet is a factor where parents themselves can have direct influence. It is quite common nowadays for young women to avoid drinking milk, due in part to prevailing trends and concerns, some of which are linked to myths about diet.
Drinking Milk While Breastfeeding may Decrease the Child s Food Allergy Risk by Iswarya on December 24, 2020 at 11:27 AM
Nutrients.
The result is based on a survey of more than 500 Swedish women s eating habits and the prevalence of allergies in their children at one year of age. We have found that mothers of healthy one-year-olds consumed more cow s milk during breastfeeding than mothers of allergic one-year-olds. Though the association is clear, we do not claim that drinking cow s milk would be a general cure for food allergies, says Mia Stråvik, a doctoral student in the Division of Food Science at the Chalmers University of Technology and first author of the study.
40 shares
According to Ms Stråvik, the way the data was obtained in the new study was more robust than previous investigations which had relied solely on questionnaires.
Each mother in the study gave a detailed account of their eating habits in the 34th week of the pregnancy, one month after the birth and four months after birth.
At one year of age, the children were medically examined and all cases of food allergy, atopic eczema and asthma were identified.
The team accounted for compounding factors, such as hereditary predisposition or reverse causation. In this study, we were able to actually verify the women s reported intake of milk and milk products through biomarkers in her blood and breast milk, said Ms Stråvik.
Drinking cow’s milk while breastfeeding linked to reduced food allergy risk
Allergies, the most common chronic diseases affecting children, are on the rise.
According to the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI), the number of children with allergies has doubled in the last 10 years, and visits to A&E have increased seven-fold.
Food allergies vary across the bloc. In continental Europe, the most common allergies are triggered by fresh fruit and vegetables, whereas in Anglo-Saxon countries, most food allergies relate to hazelnuts, peanuts and walnuts. In Northern Europe, allergy to fish and shellfish are the most common.