Title:Cow’s Milk Allergenicity
VOLUME: 14 ISSUE: 1
Author(s):Sophia Tsabouri, Kostas Douros and Kostas N. Priftis
Affiliation:Child Health Department, University of Ioannina Medical School, Ioannina, Greece.
Keywords:Cow’s milk allergenicity, cow’s milk composition, cow’s milk cross-reactivity, distribution of milk allergens,
structure of milk allergens, stability of milk allergens.
Abstract:In this review, clinical and epidemiological aspects of milk allergy along with current data on the structure and
function of the main cow's milk allergens, are presented. Milk allergy is the most frequent food allergy in childhood. One
of the reasons why allergy to cow’s milk shows its highest prevalence in children is its early introduction into the diets of
infants when breast feeding is not possible. The major allergens are caseins, a-lactalbumin and β-lactoglobulin, but
allergies to other minor proteins (immunoglobulins, bovine serum albumin) have also been reported. Milk allergenicity
can be reduced by various processing methods (mainly hydrolysis), and processed formulas based on cow’s milk can often
be safely introduced to children allergic to milk proteins.
Cross reactivity has been described between different mammalian milks and between milk and meat or animal dander.
