Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-vdxz6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T22:50:17.308Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The immunological and long-term atopic outcome of infants born to women following a milk-free diet during late pregnancy and lactation: a pilot study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

Julie A. Lovegrove ,
Shelagh M. Hampton  and
Jane B. Morgan
Julie A. Lovegrove
Affiliation:
Division of Biomedical Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 5XH, Surrey
Shelagh M. Hampton
Affiliation:
Division of Biomedical Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 5XH, Surrey
Jane B. Morgan
Affiliation:
Division of Biomedical Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 5XH, Surrey
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Infants born to atopic parents have been found to be at high risk of allergy development. The present study investigated the effect of a maternal milk-free diet during late pregnancy and lactation on the immune response and allergy incidence in at-risk and control infants. Atopic mothers were randomly allocated into an intervention group (n 12) or an unrestricted-diet group (n 14) and compared with non-atopic mothers following an unrestricted diet (n 12). The intervention involved a maternal milk-free diet during late pregnancy and lactation. Infants were followed up for 18 months postnatally. A significant fall in maternal serum β-Iactoglobulin (β-Lg)–immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody levels (P < 0.05) was observed after a 7-week milk-exclusion diet. In maternal and cord serum samples the levels of β-Lg–IgG and α-casein–IgG antibodies were significantly correlated (r 0.89, P < 0.0001 and r 0.71, P < 0.001 respectively). Higher levels of β-Lg–IgG (P < 0.05) were observed in the cord serum samples compared with paired maternal serum samples. Single-blind allergy assessment by a paediatrician at 12 and 18 months showed that the infants born in the non-atopic group had a significantly lower allergy incidence compared with the infants born in the atopic group following an unrestricted diet (P < 0.008 and P < 0.02 respectively). The allergy incidence in the infants born in the atopic diet group was significantly lower compared with that of the atopic group following an unrestricted diet (P < 0.04). It was observed that the atopic nature of the parents significantly affected the allergy incidence in their children. A trend towards a beneficial effect of a maternal milk-free diet during late pregnancy and lactation was also observed in infants born to atopic parents.

Keywords

Milk-free dietInfant allergyImmune response
Type
Diet and immunology
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 71 , Issue 2 , February 1994 , pp. 223 - 238
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1994

References

REFERENCES

Aberg, N., Engstrom, I. & Lindberg, U. (1989). Allergic diseases in Swedish school children. Acta Paediatrica Scundinavica 78, 246–252.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Archibald, D. W., Johnson, J. P., Nair, P., Alger, L. S., Hebert, C. A., Davis, E. & Hines, S. E. (1990). Detection of salivary immunoglobulin A antibodies to HIV-1 in infants and children. Aids 4, 417–420.Google Scholar
Cant, A. J., Marsden, R. A. & Kilshaw, P. J. (1985). Egg and cow&apos;s milk hypersensitivity in exclusively breast fed infants with eczema, and the detection of egg protein in breast milk. British Medical Journal 291, 932–935.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carlsson, B., Gothefors, L., Ahlstedt, S., Hanson, L. A. & Winberg, J. (1976). Studies of E. coli O antigen specific antibodies in human milk, maternal serum and cord blood. Acta Paediatrica Scandinavtca 65, 216–224.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Casimir, G., Gossart, B., Vis, H. L. & Duchateau, J. (1985). Antibody against betalactoglobulin (IgG) and cow&apos;s milk allergy. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 75, 206–207.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chandra, R. K. (1988). Nutrition and immunity. Recenti Progressi in Medicina 79, 305–309.Google Scholar
Chandra, R. K., Puri, S. & Hamed, A. (1989). Influence of maternal diet during lactation and the use of formula feeds on development of atopic eczema in high risk infants. British Medical Journal 299, 228–230.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chandra, R. K., Puri, S., Suraiya, P. & Cheema, P. S. (1986). Influence of maternal food antigen avoidance during pregnancy and lactation on incidence of atopic eczema in infants. Clinical Allergy 16, 563–569.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cripps, A. W., Gleeson, M. & Clancy, R. L. (1989). Molecular characteristics of IgA in infant saliva. Scandinavian Journal of Immunology 29, 317–324.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
D'Amelio, R., Bonomo, R., D'Offizi, G. P., Mezzaroma, I., Pontesilli, O., Le Moli, S., Di Lollo, G. C., Mei, V., Pesce, G., Tanturli, E., Carlizza, L. & Aiuti, F. (1986). Salivary Ig A levels in normal children. Diagnostic Immunology 4, 145–148.Google Scholar
Dannaeus, A., Johnsson, S. G. O. & Foucard, T. (1977). Clinical and immunological aspects of food allergy in childhood. I. Estimation of lgG, IgA and IgE antibodies to food antigens in children with food allergy and atopic dermatitis. Acta Paediatrica Scandinavica 66, 31–37.Google Scholar
Dannaeus, A., Johansson, S. G. O. & Foucard, T. (1978). Clinical and immunological aspects of food allergy in childhood. 11. Development of allergic symptoms and humoral immune response to food in infants of atopic mothers during the first 24 months of life. Acta Paediatrica Scandinavica 67, 497–504.Google Scholar
Department of Health (1991). Dietary Reference Values for Food Energy and Nutrients for the United Kingdom. Technical Series no. 41. London: H.M. Stationery Office.Google Scholar
Fälth-Magnusson, K. & Kjellman, N.-I. M. (1987). Development of atopic disease In babies whose mothers were receiving exclusion diets during pregnancy – a randomized study. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Inimunology. 80, 869–875.Google ScholarPubMed
Fälth-Magnusson, K., Kjellman, N.-I. M. & Magnusson, K.-E. (1988). Antibodies IgG, IgA, and IgM to food antigens during the first 18 months of life in relation to feeding and development of atopic disease. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Invnunology 81, 743–749.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fälth-Magnusson, I., Oman, H. & Kjellman, N.-I. M. (1987). Maternal abstention from cow milk and egg in allergy risk pregnancies. Allergy 42, 64–73.Google Scholar
Frick, M. & Rieger, C. H. L. (1987). Local antibodies α-casein and β-lactoglobulin in the saliva of infants. Pediatric Research 22, 399–401.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hamburger, R. N., Hellers, S., Mellon, M. H., O'Connor, R. & Zeiger, R. S. (1983). Current status of clinical and immunologic consequences of prototype allergic disease prevention programs. Annals of Allergy 51, 281–290.Google Scholar
Hampton, S. M., Morgan, J. B., Smith, M. R., Morris, R., Lovegrove, J. A. & Marks, V. (1989). Circulating and secretory antibodies to specific food proteins in adults. European Journal of Clinica1 Nutrition 44, 151–156.Google Scholar
Hattevig, G., Kjellman, B.. Sigurs, N., Bjorksten, B. & Kjellman, N.-I. M. (1989). Effect of maternal avoidance of eggs, cow&apos;s milk and fish during lactation upon allergic manifestations in infants. Clinical and Experimental Allergy 19, 27–32.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hattevig, G., Kjellman, B., Sigurs, N., Grodzinsky, E., Hed, J. & Bjorksten, B. (1990). The effect of maternal avoidance of eggs, cow&apos;s milk, and fish during lactation on the development of IgE IgG, and IgA antibodies in infants. Journal of Allergy find Clinical Immunology 85, 108–115.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jakobsson, I. & Lindberg, T. (1978). Cow&apos;s milk as a cause of infantile colic in brest fed infants. Lancet ii, 437.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kohler, P. F. & Farr, R. S. (1966). Elevation of cord over maternal IgG immunoglobulins - evidence for an active placental IgG transport. Nature 210, 1070–1071.Google Scholar
Lilja, G., Dannaeus, A., Fäaacute;lth-Magnusson, K., Grdff-Lonnevig, V., Johnsson, S. G. O., Kjellman, N.-I. M. & Oman, H. (1988). Immune response of the atopic women and foetus: effect of high- and low-dose food allergen intake during late pregnancy. Clinical Allergy 18, 131–142.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lilja, G., Dannaeus, A., Foucard, T., Graff-Lonnevig, V., Johansson, S. G. O. & Oman, H. (1989). Effects of maternal diet during late pregnancy and lactation on the development of atopic diseases in infants up to 18 months of age - in vivo results. Clinical and Experimenta1 Allergy 19, 473–479.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lovegrove, J. A. (1991). Studies of milk antibodies and antigens in human adults and infants. PhD Thesis, University of Surreya.Google Scholar
Lovegrove, J. A., Hampton, S. M., Morgan, J. B. & Marks, V. (1989). Quantification of total IgG levels against α-casein in human serum samples serum. Biochemical Society Transactions 17, 1059–1060.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lovegrove, J. A., Osman, D. L., Morgan, J. B. & Hampton, S. M. (1993). The transfer of cow's milk α-lactoglobulin to human serum after a milk load: a pilot study. Gut 34, 203–207.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Machtinger, S. & Moss, R. (1986). Cow's milk allergy in breast fed infants: the role of allergen and maternal secretory IgA antibody. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 77, 341.Google Scholar
May, C. D., Remigio, L., Feldman, J., Bock, S. H. & Carr, R. I. (1977). The study of serum antibodies to isolated milk proteins and ovalbumin in infants and children. Clinical Allergy 7, 583–595.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mellander, L., Carlsson, B. & Hanson, L. A. (1984). Appearance of secretory IgM and IgA antibodies to E. coli in saliva during early infancy and childhood. Journal of Pediatrics 104, 564–568.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Notley, J. R., Gibney, M. J. & Gallagher, P. J. (1984). Absence of an effect of tolerance to milk protein on experimental atherosclerosis in rabbits. Atherosclerosis 52, 199–202.Google Scholar
Pdthirdna, C., Goulding, N. J., Gibney, M. J., Pitts, J. M., Gallagher, P. J. & Taylor, T. G. (1981). Immune tolerance produced by pre- and postnatal exposure to dietary antigens. International Archives of Allergy and Applied Immunology 66, 114–118.Google Scholar
Renz, H., Vestner, R., Petzoldt, S., Brehler, C., Prinz, H. & Rieger, C. H. L. (1990). Elevated concentrations of salivary secretory immunoglobulin A anti-cow's milk protein in newborns at risk of allergy. Interational Archives of Allergy and Applied Immunology 92, 247–253.Google Scholar
Sokal, R. R. & Rohlf, F. J. (1969). Biometry. The principles and statistics in biologicul research, 1st ed. San Francisco: W. H. Freeman and Company.Google Scholar
Talbot, F. B. (1918). Eczema in childhood. Medical Clinics of North America 1, 985.Google Scholar
Telemo, E., Jakobsson, I., Westrom, B. R. & Folkesson, H. (1987). Maternal dietary antigens and the immune response in the offspring of the guinea-pig. Immunology 62, 35–38.Google Scholar
Zeiger, R. S., Heller, S., Mellon, M. H., Forsythe, A. B., O'Connor, R. D., Hamburger, R. N. & Schatz, M. (1989). Effect of combined maternal and infant food-allergen avoidance on the development of atopy in early infancy: a randomized study. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 84, 72–89.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed