Cow's Milk Allergy

Cow's Milk Allergy (CMA) is one of the most common food allergies, affecting 2-5% of infants globally.1

CMA typically develops in an infant’s first year, and it occurs when the immune system reacts inappropriately to a protein in cow's milk.2 The allergic reaction usually causes symptoms like diarrhoea, wheezing and eczema - these symptoms are common in infants who aren't well, so it can take time to diagnose.

Welcome to the healthcare professional pages of Cow’s Milk Allergy. Here you’ll be able to access a range of valuable articles and resources related to this topic, including clinical guidelines and detailed product information.

The role of nutrition

Allergy can place a significant burden on both the patient and their families, as well as on healthcare resources3,4. Allergies, including cow’s milk allergy (CMA), are caused by the body’s immune system overreacting to stimuli that are otherwise harmless.

Breastfeeding is the very best nutrition for all infants. When breastfeeding is not possible, there are tailored nutritional solutions – hypoallergenic formulas – specially designed for infants with cow’s milk allergy.

The mainstay of dietary management of CMA infants is the avoidance of all cow’s milk and cow’s milk protein-based infant formulas. Breastfeeding is the gold standard for infant nutrition; however, it may not always be possible for all CMA infants. Therefore, healthcare professionals may prescribe specialized infant formulas based on hydrolyzed protein or amino acids for dietary management.

Due to the recognition that there is gut microbiota dysbiosis in allergy5-7, there is a compelling rationale for the addition of both pre- and probiotics ingredients to formula for infants with CMA. An extensive clinical trial program has investigated the role of synbiotics (a blend of pre- and probiotics) in the dietary management of CMA8-11.

 Recognising CMA

Learn More about Cow's Milk Allergy

  1. Fiocchi A, et al. World Allergy Organization Journal. 2010;3(4):57-161.
  2. DRAMCA. WAO Journal April 2010. 2. NICE. Food allergy in under 19s: assessment and diagnosis. CG116. 2011
  3. Michaelis L, et al. Upskilling healthcare professionals to manage clinical allergy. Clin Exp Allergy. 2019;49:1534-1540.
  4. Meyer R, et al. The impact on quality of life on families of children on an elimination diet for Non-immunoglobulin E mediated gastrointestinal food allergies. World Allergy Organization Journal. 2017:10; 8
  5. Berni Canani R, et al. ISME J, 2016;3:42-50.2
  6. Ling Z, et al. Appl Environ Microbiol, 2014;80:2546-54.3
  7. Thompson-Chagoyan OC, et al. Pediatr Allergy Immunol, 2010;21:e394-400
  8. Burks A et al. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2015;26(4):316-22
  9. Candy D et al. Pediatr Res. 2018;83(3):677-86
  10. Fox AT et al. Clin Transl Allergy. 2019;9:5
  11.  Chatchatee P et al. JACI. 2021
  12. Collado MC, et al. Pediatr Res, 2015;77,182-8.
  13.  Jandhyala SM, et al. World J Gastroenterol, 2015;21(29); 8787–803.
  14.  Collado MC, et al. Pediatr Res, 2015;77,182-8.
  15.  Lee YY, et al. J Paediatr Child Health, 2017;53,1152-8.
  16. Prescott, S.L, Origins: Early-life solutions to the modern health crisis, Published on 2015: University of Western Australia Press, Crawly, Western Australia.

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