Cow’s milk protects newborns from allergies later in life--study

Milk allergy occurs when immune system reacts adversely and acts in resistance with milk protein. This leads to an allergic reaction thus causing the infant to be fussy and irritable, along with other problems like an upset stomach.

CMPA can also cause skin rashes and respiratory issues in babies and, in extremely rare cases may result in shock and death.

The National Post quoted lead author Professor Yitzhak Katz, Tel Aviv University’s Department of Pediatrics, Sackler Faculty of Medicine as saying, “Women who regularly [daily] introduced their babies to cow’s milk protein early, before 15 days of life, almost completely eliminated the incidence of an allergy to cow’s milk protein in their babies.”

13,019 infants studied
In the study that involved the longest and largest prospective of its kind, researchers looked at the feeding history of 13,019 infants.

Their analysis revealed that introducing cows’ milk formula within the first fourteen days of an infant’s life resulted in a defensive action against milk protein allergy.

It was known that babies who were given formula shortly after birth had a 19 times lesser tendency of falling prey to cow’s milk allergy.

Conversely, those who were given cow’s milk formula later on were found to be susceptible to CMPA.

Expert advice
According to scientists, early exposure to cow’s milk offers a protective ‘vaccination effect’ in infants.

However, breastfeeding the baby is imperative; researchers suggest that exposing the baby to formula early in life is also essential.

They further stated that mothers who choose to breastfeed should consider giving a bottle of formula per night.

Yet, the exact quantity of cow’s milk to be given to the child is unknown; more research is required before giving any concrete advice to mothers, stated Katz.

Katz added that if the baby is not exposed to cow’s milk in first 15 days, mother should wait until the child is one-year old to introduce cow’s milk in the diet.

Moreover, a baby should never be introduced to cow’s milk in the three to five month period, added Katz.

The study appears in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.