Delaying cow milk may not prevent allergy

Delaying the introduction of cow milk and other semi-solid foods into an infant's diet does not decrease the risk of developing allergies in the first 2 years of life. It's a common belief that the later you introduce cow milk and semi-solid food into an infant's diet, the better it is for the child's overall health. However, there is little scientific evidence on timing of solid-food introduction in infants and its association with the development of allergy. To investigate the associations between the introduction of cow milk products/other solid food products and risk of developing atopic eczema, researchers in Netherlands analysed data from 2558 infants. The mothers provided information late in pregnancy and at 3, 7, 12, and 24 months after delivery regarding introduction of cow milk products and other food products and any allergy symptoms (eczema or allergic dermatitis) they experienced. The infants' blood was tested for sensitisation to allergens at 2 years of age. It was found that delaying the introduction of cow milk products beyond 9 months significantly increased the risk of eczema, a chronic skin condition characterised by chronic inflammation of the skin resulting in itchy dry patches. The delayed introduction of other semi-solid food products for more than 7 months also markedly increased the risk of eczema as well as the risk of atopic dermatitis and recurrent wheeze. The results did not vary when infants with early symptoms of eczema and recurrent wheezing were excluded. The findings suggest that although breastfeeding remains the best food for the infant's health, delaying the introduction of cow milk or other food products may not be favourable in preventing the development of allergies.

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