Cow Milk Allergy Gives Kids Weaker Bones

Mental Health

Cow Milk Allergy Gives Kids Weaker Bones

By George Houston | Update Date: Apr 23, 2016 07:41 AM EDT

Weaker bones are now a primary indication in kids having an allergy to cow's milk as debunked by a study from the University of Montreal. The study spearheaded by co-researcher Genevieve Mailhot at the CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center listed that in their registry of 52 children with an allergy to cow's milk, 6% of the demographic recorded a low bone density, according to Web MD.

"Prepubertal children with persistent cow's milk allergy have a lower bone mineral density and calcium intake compared with similarly aged children with food allergies other than cow's milk," the associate professor said. "Parents should encourage the intake of alternate sources of calcium in their children's diet," Mailhot added said proposing alternatives such as soy, almond or rice milk.

Examination of the study began by handpicking more than 80 children with an average age of 7 years old. The registry, however, was composed of 52 children with a definite allergy to cow's milk while the remaining 29 were hypersensitive to other food products which do not include milk.

They were all measured in bone mineral density along with their daily consumption of calcium and Vitamin D. Some of the test subjects were advised to take supplements. Their levels of Vitamin D were also taken into consideration. The findings from Mailhot and her colleagues recorded that 6 percent of the 52 with an allergy to milk coming from a cow had low bone mineral density while those hypersensitive to other food products did not show any mark. The former also recorded a calcium intake which was slightly lower averaging just 930 milligram per day. The recommended daily allowance for calcium is 1,000 milligrams which the other group surpassed by more than 435 milligrams per day.

It was also ascertained that only 37 percent of the group with cow's milk allergies had calcium supplements while only 44 percent had Vitamin D supplements. If taking milk is still a concern, according to Patient, hydrolysed milk like Nutramigen can be advised by one's physician as a better alternative supplement.

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