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A recent study, held in rural regions of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, has found that children who drank raw farm milk were less likely to develop childhood asthma and allergies as compared to children who drank pasteurized milk. The researchers of the study believe that the protective effect of raw milk consumption on asthma might be associated with the whey protein fraction of milk.

 

The study was base on a questionnaire about farm milk consumption and other farm-related exposures. Parents of 8334 school aged children filled up the form and 7606 children agreed to provide their serum samples to assess specific levels of immunoglobulin E, which is associated with allergies. Samples of 800 cow’s milk were also analyzed for viable bacterial counts, whey protein levels, and total fat content. An association was drawn between consumption of raw farm milk and incidence of asthma, atopy and hay fever. The researchers found a reduction of 41% in the chances of developing asthma, in these children. Even the incidence of hay fever was reduced by 50%. However, these advantages disappeared when the children drank boiled farm milk. The researchers attribute the protective action of farm milk to bovine serum albumin, alpha-lactalbumin, and beta-lactoglobulin (whey proteins). The study has been published online August 29th in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

 

However, other scientists have asked the parents to refrain from giving raw milk to their children based on the results of this study. The study has not conclusively found that the protective effects against asthma and allergies are due to the consumption of raw milk and not due to the presence of some other confounding factor. Even the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned against drinking raw milk as it may jeopardize the health of the children due to the presence of harmful micro-organisms.

 

References:

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