Milk Allergy For Children Can Lead to Future Problems

A small study suggests, children who are allergic to cow's milk may have weaker bones than kids with other food allergies. Researchers say, cow's milk allergy is the most common childhood food allergy in the United States, affecting up to 3 percent of children. The main treatment is elimination of cow's milk and dairy products -- which are major sources of the calcium kids need to build strong bones. This new study detected low bone density in 6 percent of 52 children with a long-term milk allergy. Prior research has shown that children who don't reach peak bone mass have a higher risk of the bone-thinning disease osteoporosis in later life.