Dairy-Free Milk Provides Calcium for Children with Milk Allergies

Highlights:

• A milk allergy and lactose intolerance are two different issues.
• Calcium is crucial for bone growth and long-term health.
• There are many dairy-free options in the market to ensure everyone can get the calcium and nutrients they need. 

In the US, milk allergies are the most common allergies among children, estimating that between 2 and 3% of children under the age of 3 are allergic to milk, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.¹ While most outgrow their allergy by age 4, some may not, and it may have an impact on their bone health. A study released in 2016 found that 6% of children with an allergy to cow's milk had a lower bone mineral density in their lumbar spine than those that consumed milk. Calcium intake was significantly lower in those with a milk allergy and few subjects supplemented their diet with calcium and vitamin D, two important nutrients for children obtained from milk.² 

What is a milk allergy?

Not to be confused with lactose intolerance, the inability for the enzyme lactase to break down sufficient lactose into monosaccharides, a milk allergy is an immunological hypersensitivity to the proteins, whey and casein, in milk. This can elicit a mild to severe adverse reaction when even the slightest bit of food is ingested, including life-threatening anaphylactic shock.³ 

Bone Health in Adolescence

The youth years are an extremely important time for bone development. In adolescents, growing bone is in the modeling stage, sculpted through the construction of new bone and removal of older bone.  Calcium, being the most abundant mineral in the human body, is the key mineral during this process and mainly stored in the bones and teeth. Consuming adequate calcium in adolescence is crucial for bone growth and for long-term bone health in adult years. A calcium deficiency in children can lead to improper bone development among other bone health issues later in life.⁴

Calcium Absorption

Milk and other dairy products are the main sources of calcium consumption in the American diet. Calcium absorption is affected by many other nutrients in the body and diet. Vitamin D is needed to properly absorb the nutrient, which is why it is used to fortify milk. Trace minerals like magnesium and zinc are also important for optimal bone growth and health. 

Non-Dairy Calcium Food Sources

The number of dairy-free options are increasing as the trend of straying from cow's milk is on the rise.  This leaves an immense number of options for those who need to slash dairy from their diet for various reasons, a milk allergy, lactose intolerance or a vegan diet.  Almond, soy, rice, hemp and cashew milk are among a few of the many dairy-free alternatives, though, some are still concerned as to whether these plant-based milks are a sufficient source of calcium. Many of these products are now fortified with calcium, vitamin D and A to be a comparable product to cow's milk.  

Many studies do recommend that other foods be consciously added to the diet that have significant calcium sources. Many green, leafy vegetables have significant sources of calcium along with calcium fortified foods like fruit juices and drinks, tofu and cereals. 

If you’re looking to boost the nutritional value of your dairy alternative, consider a Custom Premix Solution from Glanbia Nutritionals. Not only do we have the expertise to bring you value throughout the entire premix process, our formulation and application scientists can help you at any stage of product development for any application. Contact us today to learn more. 

References

1.    American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Milk & Dairy Allergies.
2.     Mailhot G, Perrone V, Alos N, Dubois J, Delvin E, Paradis L, Des Roches A. 2016. Cow's Milk Allergy and Bone Mineral Density in Prepubertal Children. Pediatrics. 137(5).
3.    Kleine-Tebbe J, Waßmann-Otto A, Mönnikes H. 2016. Food Allergy and Intolerance: Distinction, Definitions and Delimitation. 59(6):705-22.
4.    Office of the Surgeon General (US). 2019. Bone Health and Osteoporosis: What It Means to You. 
5.    National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Calcium. 
6.    US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Nutrient Data Laboratory. 2016. USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 28.