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Bone mineral status in children with cow milk allergy

Vagn Braendholt Jensen1, Inger Merete Jørgensen, Kirsten Braendholt Rasmussen

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, Gentofte University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark. braendholt@dadlnet.dk

Pediatric Allergy and Immunology : Official Publication of the European Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
|December 22, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Children with cow milk allergy often have reduced bone mineral density and shorter stature. Supplementation with calcium is recommended for these children to improve bone health.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Nutritional Science
  • Allergy Immunology

Background:

  • Cow milk allergy (CMA) can impact nutrient absorption and growth in children.
  • Long-term CMA may affect bone mineral status, particularly in children with co-existing conditions like asthma.
  • Corticosteroid treatment for asthma can also influence bone health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess bone mineral status in children with a history of cow milk allergy exceeding 4 years.
  • To compare bone mineral content (BMC), bone area, and bone mineral density (BMD) with a healthy reference population.
  • To identify potential contributing factors to altered bone health in this cohort.

Main Methods:

  • Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to measure whole-body BMC, bone area, and BMD.
  • Nine children (8-17 years old) with verified CMA for over 4 years were studied.
  • Anthropometric measurements (height-for-age) and bone age assessment were performed.

Main Results:

  • Children with CMA showed significantly reduced BMC and BMD for age (p < 0.01).
  • Height-for-age was significantly reduced (p < 0.01), indicating shorter bones.
  • BMC for bone area was borderline reduced (p = 0.05), suggesting impaired bone mineralization. Growth and bone age were also retarded.

Conclusions:

  • Shortened bone length is a primary factor in reduced BMC and BMD in children with CMA.
  • Borderline low BMC for bone area indicates compromised bone mineralization.
  • Calcium supplementation is advised for children with cow milk allergy to support bone health.

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