Organic Milk Linked to Lower Instance of Allergies, Eczema, and Asthma in Young Children

According to a new study published in the British Journal of Nutrition, young children who consume organic dairy products exclusively are less likely to develop asthma, allergies, or eczema by the time they reach two years of age. "This is the first example of a definite health impact of organic food consumption being published in a peer-reviewed journal," said Carlo Leifert, a researcher at the UK's Newcastle University, who is conducting a similar study into the correlation between organic food and health.

Researchers at the Louis Bolk Institute in the Netherlands followed 2500 pregnant women through their pregnancies and for approximately two years following the birth of their children. Information regarding subjects' overall health, lifestyle choices, and dietary habits were recorded during the course of the study. The team found that the rate of allergies in children who exclusively consumed organic dairy products and whose mothers consumed these foods while pregnant or breastfeeding was nearly 40 percent lower than in children who consumed non-organic dairy products or a combination of organic and non-organic foods.
"There was a clear relationship between organic dairy use and less eczema," said lead study author Machteld Huber. "The difference was significant but only for children exclusively eating organic dairy products." Huber added, "We didn't find a relationship if they had [both] organic and conventional dairy products."

While the researchers were able to make a strong connection between organic dairy products and lower risk of certain childhood ailments, there is still uncertainty surrounding exactly what causes these benefits. The study was not able to definitively confirm whether the increased allergy, asthma, and eczema risks derived by consuming non-organic dairy products was due to added toxins such as antibiotics and artificial growth hormones administered to livestock, reduced levels of crucial nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids in non-organic dairy products, a combination of both, or some other unknown factor. Further research and testing will be necessary to precisely confirm the key difference between organic and non-organic dairy products in relationship to these ailments.

"Organic milk doesn't contain any pesticides, added hormones or antibiotics," explains Stuart Martin, member of the Scottish Organic Milk Producers Association. "When an organic cow becomes sick our farmers are encouraged to treat is homeopathically first and only use antibiotics as a last resort. Meanwhile, the milk from that cow is removed from the milk stream and is not used at all." This general policy holds true for organic milk and dairy producers all over the world.

There is as yet insufficient evidence to suggest that children and pregnant women who consume an exclusively organic diet - including whole foods like fruits, grains, nuts, vegetables, and seeds - can claim the same benefits as those revealed by the Bolk Institute research, but several studies are ongoing. It is clear, however, that significant proof exists to support the notion that feeding very young children exclusively organic dairy products can substantially decrease their risk of developing eczema, allergies, or asthma.