Beef Meat Allergy in Cow’s Milk Allergic Adults

Abstract

Milk has been recognized as a leading cause of food allergy in children; however, studies on cow's milk allergy (CMA) in adults are scanty. The known cross-reactivity of bovine serum albumin and bovine -globulin which are present in both milk and beef is recognized, so that, patients with allergy to cow's milk are often instructed to avoid beef. Our Objective was to determine the prevalence of allergy to beef meat in adult patients with allergy to cow's milk. Thirty adults with CMA were included in the study. The diagnosis of cow's milk and beef allergy was based on a thorough history concerning type of allergic symptoms and its link to the ingestion of milk and beef supported by skin prick test (SPT) with fresh milk and raw beef extracts and by determination of their serum specific IgE by enzyme linked immuosorbant assay (ELISA). Finally, cross reactivity test between milk and meat was performed. Three of 30 patients (10%) evaluated for CMA were found to have symptomatic sensitivity to beef, 2 gave urticarial symptoms and one gave gastrointestinal symptoms. Six patients (20%) had a positive SPT response to beef. On the other hand, beef specific IgE were positive in 18 CMA patients (60%). Concordance of positive specific IgE and SPT to meat was found in only 5 patients (17%). Mean cross reactivity between milk and beef was 31.6% ± 13.1% among studied patients. Patients allergic to milk protein are not necessarily to be allergic to beef, so, elimination of beef from the diet of adults with CMA should not be done except after investigations so as not to lose its nutritional value without benefit.

Co‐sensitization and cross‐reactivity between related and unrelated food allergens in dogs – a serological study

“…A number of studies in patients with cow's milk allergy demonstrated that between 60 and 87.5% had specific IgE to beef. 23,24 However, a review of studies in infants with cow's milk allergy found that only 13-20% were also beef allergic; interestingly, in their own double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge study, the authors found up to 92.9% of children with beef allergy had concomitant milk allergy. 25 It is not known how many dogs in the present study had confirmed cutaneous AFR.…”

Milk and Meat Allergens from Bos taurus β-Lactoglobulin, α-Casein, and Bovine Serum Albumin: An In-Vivo Study of the Immune Response in Mice

“…Caseins comprise nearly 80% of total milk proteins, and β-lg and BSA nearly 3% each [12,13,14]. Cross-reactivity between BSA and other bovine proteins has been observed in milk and meat, suggesting that BSA is a potential allergen for CMA patients [15]. However, BSA is considered a minor allergen in CMA [16], whereas it is one of the most important allergens in beef allergy.…”