Managing milk allergy: Avoid, or consume regularly?

Monday, 25 May 2009 20:56

There is growing evidence that regular oral exposure to gradually-increasing amounts of an allergenic food can lead to a desensitised state in food-allergic children. Researchers at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, have conducted a review to examine whether the best pathway to developing tolerance to milk is via complete avoidance or by regular intentional exposure.

Their review showed a limited number of studies have attempted to demonstrate permanent tolerance induction, and the researchers believe it remains to be determined whether or not the majority of milk-allergic patients can achieve permanent tolerance through desensitisation methods. The most promising therapeutic approaches appear to be the consumption of extensively heated cow's milk and treatment with orally or sublingually administered milk immunotherapy. The mechanisms of action are for both desensitization and tolerisation are not yet understood.

Reference: Skripak & Wood 2009. Current Opinion in Allergy & Clinical Immunology. Vol 9(3) pp. 259-64.