Low Allergy Milk

Milk Safe for Milk Allergic?

I'll admit that I'm a little wigged out about genetically modified foods. For right now, my opinion is that I want it clearly marked so consumers can make their own choices. That said, I'm intrigued by the news of a genetically modified cow that can produce milk without beta-lactoglobulin - a whey protein to which some people are allergic.

Researchers were able to interfere with the RNA of a cow, that went on to birth a calf that doesn't produce milk with any detectable beta-lactoglobulin. (Said calf was also born without a tail, but researchers believe that is unrelated to the genetic modifications...still wigged out). Researchers will now watch to see if the genetic modification will be passed on through future cow generations.

Of course more research is needed and low allergy milk will probably not be found in grocery dairy cases in the near future. Read the abstract in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (full text copies may be purchased) and check out the article in the BBC that originally caught my attention. The ability to remove the protein that is causing allergic reactions is appealing to me as long as it is done safely and ethically. We shall see where this leads...

Safe Treatment for Food Allergy

While avoidance has long been the recommended treatment for food allergy, several presentations at the annual meeting of the AAAAI this week offer hope for better options. One Step Closer to Treatment for Food Allergy outlines two potential treatments, oral immunotherapy and sublingual immunotherapy. Sublingual refers to the allergen being held under the tongue until it dissolves, while oral means actually swallowing the allergen.

Research with children who have milk allergy provided some clues to those who may benefit from either, or both, of these treatments. While the sample sizes are small, positive results have been obtained and resulted in tolerance for milk protein. For more information, check with your allergist about immunotherapy for food allergies.This is not something that should be done at home as it requires medical supervision.

Progress appears to be slow and steady...

For more information about presentations at the AAAAI annual meeting, see abstracts from the presenters.

Food Allergy Desensitization May be coming to an Office Near You

If you haven't spoken to your allergist in the past 6 months, you may want to check in. Food allergy desensitization programs like this one are becoming more prevalent. I found out over the summer that our allergist office will begin peanut desensitization in December. They chose peanut to start because they have a peanut allergic allergist who is willing to be the first desensitization patient in the practice. My 12-year-old may enter the peanut program this summer, although were are just as anxious for a milk desensitization program.

I'm really excited about this works. I recognize the risks, but I hope with a slow progression, an active watch for symptoms of an allergic reaction and keeping epinephrine close at hand, there will be success. This living in fear of accidental ingestion due to cross contamination or incomplete food labels is no good. Finally, some help may be on the way!