Sorry for taking so long to post this, but I am recovering from turkey
overdose.
        In the August 28, 1996 edition of JAMA, a study was published (along
with an editorial) entitled "Lack of Association Between Early Exposure
to Cow's Milk Protein and B-Cell Autoimmunity".  I think this is the
reference some of the parenting magazines are basing the recently
discussed articles. BTW, the study took place in Denver and most of the
researchers were from the University of Colorado.  Anyhow, the objective
of this study, also known as DAISY (Diabetes Autoimmunity Study in the
Young), was "To examine whether infant dietary exposure to cow's milk is
associated with B-cell autoimmunity (BCA), an early predictor of
insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus."  The results and conclusions were,
"18 cases of BCA were detected; 153 unrelated autoantibody-negative
children were selected from the cohort as controls.  There were no
differences in the proportion of cases and controls who were exposed to
cow's milk or foods containing cow's milk or to cereal, fruit and
vegetable, or meat protein by 3 or 6  months of age.  Children with BCA
were breast-fed for a slightly longer duration than controls (median
duration 10 vs 8 months, P=.07). These data suggest taht early exposure
to cow's milk or other dietary protein is not associated with BCA. This
calls into question the importance of cow's milk avoidance as a
preventive measure for IDDM."
        I recommend that everyone read this study.  The authors of this study
didn't examine the relationship of early exposure to cow's milk and
IDDM, but the early eating patterns of 1st degree relatives of patients
with IDDM who had levels of autoantibodies to insulin and some other
enzymes. They also claimed that 46% of BCA individuals will end up with
IDDM. Well, if that were the case 8 of the 18 kids in this study group
will progress to IDDM. If 3 of these cases represented the 3 BCA
subjects with early cow's milk exposure, then 100% of the early exposure
group would develop IDDM and only 33% of the low exposure group would
develop it!
        This semester, research was concluded here at ASU where 13 day old BB
(genetically sensitive to diabetes) rats were fed various brands of
infant formula. Just to tease you here are the results of diabetes
incidence at day 150: 50% of control rats; 100% of liquid and powdered
formula-fed rats receiving formula prior to weaning (d13-d22); 82% of
liquid and powdered formula-fed rats receiving formula pre and post
weaning; and 89% of hydrolyzed powdered formula-fed rats.
        Anyone interested in discussing this further, we can do it by private
e-mail.  Unless of course, there are some of you out there who would
like more posts regarding this subject.
-- Kim
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Kimberly Elms
Arizona State University
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A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was,
the sort of house I lived in or the kind of car I drove...
But the world may be different because I was important in the life of a
child.