Maternal milk protects rat pups from cow’s milk allergy

Monday, 05 October 2009 10:10

Scientists in South Australia have investigated the immune response of rat pups exposed to beta-lactoglobulin (BLG), one of the main allergenic proteins in cow milk. Different groups of allergy-prone rats were subjected to the following diets: maternal milk only; maternal milk plus cow’s milk protein, or; formula containing cow’s milk protein. 

Sera from the rats was analysed for total IgE, BLG-specific IgG1, and rat mucosal mast cell protease II (RMCPII) after 10, 14, and 21 days. Formula-feeding compared with maternal milk, with or without cow’s milk protein, resulted in significantly greater serum IgE, BLG-specific IgG1, and RMCPII, indicating an allergic response.

Of significance, the study showed giving cow’s milk protein in the presence of maternal milk resulted in an immune response profile similar to that of unchallenged rats reared on maternal milk. From their results, the researchers concluded that introducing an allergenic food with breast milk reduces immunological indicators of an allergic response, whereas introducing them while formula feeding generates an allergic response.

Reference: Tooley et al. Journal of Nutrition. 2009 Sep 16. [Epub ahead of print]