Slight decrease in bone mineralization in cow milk-sensitive children.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nutrition
• Bone Metabolism
• Allergy Research

Background:

• Cow's milk allergy (CMA) necessitates milk-free diets, potentially leading to low calcium intake and increased risk of osteopenia in children.
• Bone health parameters in children with CMA require thorough investigation due to dietary restrictions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate bone mineralization parameters in children diagnosed with cow milk allergy.
• To compare bone mineral density and biochemical markers of bone metabolism between CMA patients and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

• Study included 27 children with CMA (mean age 4.3 years) on extensively hydrolyzed or soy-based formulas for a mean of 11.8 months.
• Assessed serum levels of electrolytes, alkaline phosphatase (AP), parathyroid hormone (PTH), osteocalcin, and beta-crosslaps.
• Measured bone mineral density (BMD) using Z scores and compared with 20 age-matched healthy controls.

Main Results:

• CMA patients showed higher AP and PTH levels than controls, though within normal ranges.
• Lower beta-crosslaps concentrations were observed in CMA patients compared to controls (P<0.001).
• Mean BMD Z score was -0.6 in CMA patients, with 10 cases below -1 SD; elevated PTH correlated with lower Z scores.

Conclusions:

• Children with CMA on milk-free diets may exhibit subtle disturbances in bone mineralization.
• Osteodensitometry can reveal these changes, highlighting the importance of monitoring bone health in this population.