Efficacy of donkey's milk in treating highly problematic cow's milk allergic children: an in vivo and in vitro study

Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2007 May;18(3):258-64. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-3038.2007.00521.x.

Abstract

Successful therapy in cow's milk protein allergy rests on completely eliminating cow's milk proteins from the child's diet: it is thus necessary to provide a replacement food. This prospective study investigated tolerance of donkey's milk in a population of 46 selected children with cow's milk protein allergy, for whom it was not possible to use any cow's milk substitute. Thirty-eight children (82.6%) liked and tolerated donkey's milk at the challenge and for the entire duration of follow-up. Catch-up growth was observed in all subjects with growth deficit during cow's milk proteins challenge. The degree of cross-reactivity of immunoglobulin E (IgE) with donkey's milk proteins was very weak and aspecific. Donkey's milk was found to be a valid alternative to both IgE-mediated and non-IgE-mediated cow's milk proteins allergy, including in terms of palatability and weight-height gain.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Animals
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Equidae
  • Female
  • Humans
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Infant
  • Italy
  • Male
  • Milk Hypersensitivity / diet therapy*
  • Milk Hypersensitivity / etiology
  • Milk* / adverse effects
  • Prospective Studies
  • Treatment Outcome