Introducing a child to the taste of cow milk in the first two weeks of life may protect them from allergy to cow’s milk protein in the future, say scientists from Israel, whose conclusions were published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
Cow’s milk protein allergy is the most common and dangerous food allergy that can lead to anaphylactic shock and even death of a child. Its symptoms include rash or disorders of the respiratory and digestive systems.
The benefits of giving babies early feeding of cow’s milk came as a surprise to Tel Aviv University’s Dr. Yitzhak Katz, who only wanted to update data on the number of babies allergic to milk and see how common she is soy-intolerant.
Among 13 thousand Only 66 (0,5%) of the examined infants were diagnosed with milk allergy. Previously, it was estimated to be from 1 to 3 percent.
Researchers also found no correlation between allergy to cow’s milk protein and allergy to soy protein, although previous studies have suggested that every third child is allergic to both ingredients.
Dr. Katz noted, however, that infants given cow’s milk in the first two weeks of life were 19 percent lower. less likely to develop allergies than babies who first received cow’s milk at or after three weeks of age.
However, the researcher emphasizes that these results should in no way discourage mothers from breastfeeding. Rather, they show that mother’s milk may be supplemented with a small amount of cow’s milk.
Let fathers enjoy being close to their children, when at midnight they provide their little ones with a dose of protein contained in cow’s milk – says Dr. Katz. (PAP)