Plasma Antibodies to Cow's Milk Are Increased by Early Weaning and Consumption of Unmodified Milk, but Production of Plasma IgA and IgM Cow's Milk Antibodies Is Stimulated Even during Exclusive Breast‐Feeding

Abstract

We measured levels of cow's milk-specific (CM) antibodies of immunoglobulin classes G, A and M by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in plasma of 198 healthy infants; a variable number of samples taken at birth and at ages of 2, 4, 6, 9, 12 and 28 months were available (altogether 765 samples). The rise in the level of IgG CM antibodies was highest and most rapid in infants exposed to CM formula before the age of 1 month. The level fell by 9 months, but rose again by 12 months. This second rise was attributed to the introduction of dairy milk. Partially breast-fed and fully weaned infants had similar levels of IgG CM antibodies. The levels of IgG CM antibodies were unaffected by the infants' own atopy, their heredity for atopy, and the umbilical serum level of IgG CM antibodies. IgA and IgM CM antibodies were absent at birth. Their levels increased similarly in exclusively breast-fed infants and infants fed CM formula. We conclude that plasma IgG antibodies to cow's milk are increased by early weaning and by consumption of unmodified cow's milk. Production of plasma IgA and IgM antibodies to cow's milk is stimulated even during exclusive breast-feeding.

Diet, cow's milk protein antibodies and the risk of IDDM in Finnish children

“…However, the differences tend to diminish thereafter; e.g. at the age of 2.5 years no differences were found in cow's milk formula IgG antibody titres in healthy children breast-fed either longer or shorter than 5 months [22]. Introduction of cow's milk or cow's milk formula did not affect cow's milk formula or BLG IgA and IgM antibody levels either [22,24].…”

“…at the age of 2.5 years no differences were found in cow's milk formula IgG antibody titres in healthy children breast-fed either longer or shorter than 5 months [22]. Introduction of cow's milk or cow's milk formula did not affect cow's milk formula or BLG IgA and IgM antibody levels either [22,24]. We observed in the population-control children inverse age-adjusted correlations between duration of overall breast-feeding and IgA antibody titres to cow's milk formula, BLG and BSA, and IgG antibody titres to BSA.…”

“…Feeding practices affect the level of serum IgG cow's milk antibodies during the first 6 months, exclusively breast-fed infants having lower levels than cow's milk formula-fed infants or breast-fed infants who receive cow's milk supplementation [21][22][23]. However, the differences tend to diminish thereafter; e.g.…”

Antigenicity for Humans of Cow Milk Caseins, Casein Hydrolysate and Casein Hydrolysate Fractions

“…Caseins from cow milk form an inhomogenous group of proteins with fibrilar structure consisting of 4 major fractions: α s1 -, α s2 -caseins, β-and κ-each forming about 45, 10, 34 and 11 % of the whole casein amount respectively (Alais and Blanc 1975) Production of anti-cow milk IgG antibodies represents a normal response of an organism to cow milk antigens and is dependent on the diet Lessof et al 1991). After an initial peak in the generation of milk specific IgG, these levels remain relatively stable after the 9th month of age in individuals with milk diet (Tainio et al 1988;Müller 1988). However, its level is markedly increased in some pathological conditions like inflammatory bowel disease, coeliac disease, cow milk sensitive enteropathy (Firer et al 1987;Lerner et al 1989) and also eczema (Firer et al 1982).…”

Maternal consumption of dairy products during pregnancy and lactation, and the development of cow's milk antibodies in the offspring

“…circulation to the fetus, whereas IgA-class CM antibodies are absent at birth [8]. The IgG-class CM antibodies detected in the newborn infant are accordingly probably transplacentally transferred, and a conspicuous correlation has been observed between the CM antibody titres in the maternal circulation and those found in cord blood [6,9].…”