Allergy Antibody Formation In Utero and
Early Infancy
Dennis Mihalka, DDS
It is difficult to comprehend the possibility that allergies
can develop at birth let alone develop while the infant is still
in the womb. The information and references below represent the
latest research on the subject of Early Infancy Allergies. There
are so many challenging Iife-long consequences that it is very
worthwhile to explore and act on the possibility of allergies
in your infant or child. The rewards are great.
The prevalence of food allergy is inversely proportionate to age.
That is, the younger the infant, the more potential for food allergy
(at first, primarily dairy products and egg whites). It is not
known whether this relationship results from maturation of the
gastrointestinal tract, thus reducing absorption of the antigen,
or whether an acquired immunity develops.1
Antigen responses occur more commonly in early infancy than in
adults, possibly because of low levels of sIgA in the intestine.2,3,4,5
The infant may also become sensitized to foods that the mother
eats in large quantities during pregnancy.6 Immunoglobulin E does
not cross the placenta; therefore, type I allergies are not acquired
passively, but foods eaten and absorbed as antigens by a pregnant
woman are believed to be capable of crossing the placenta. Antibodies
can then be made by the fetus.7,8
Some earlier studies seemed to show that maternal elimination
diets during late pregnancy did not seem to protect against allergy.10,
11 Other studies infer prenatal intrauterine sensitization to
cows milk protein and/or egg whites. 12,13,14,15,16,17
Some antigens found in the mother's diet have been found in breast
milk.9 It is interesting to note that most studies that reference
the parameter of breast feeding do not take into consideration
the concurrent dietary dairy intake of the mother.
Numerous studies confirm the secretion of cows milk proteins in
human milk causing allergic reactions. 18,19,20,21,22 Elimination
of cows milk products and eggs from the mother's diet usually
results in alleviation of these symptoms. 23,24,25
I trust that the above references and clinical observations help
establish the role of intrauterine and early infant exposure and
the development of allergy antibodies in unborn and newborn infants.
I encourage you to apply this health model to newborns afflicted
with the many symptoms attributed to early infancy allergies.
These can include one or more of the following problems:
• Eczema (flaky dry skin) anywhere on the body
• Rash (red) anywhere on body, "diaper rash" is
common
• Congested nose
• Colic
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Gastroesophageal reflux (throwing-up)
• Bed wetting problems
• Middle ear infections
Other complications of chronic middle ear infection include loss
of balance, hearing loss and learning disabilities. As a result
of extended allergies, chronic congestion occurs, which blocks
nasal breathing. This causes chronic mouth breathing, which causes
tongue thrusting, speech pathology and orthodontic problems and
sleep disorders.
If an infant or child experiences any of these symptoms, serious
consideration toward total elimination of dairy products from
the diet for ten to fourteen days should be made. Initial results
will be evident within five days or so. Dairy products may not
be the cause, but cow milk and eggs seem to be the most common
allergen given to infants.26 These tend to trigger additional
adverse immune reactions later in life.28 The most common allergens
include dairy, egg, peanuts, soy and wheat and tree nuts.29 Allergies
are very common. In one study of seven hundred fifty-seven healthy
children observed from birth, forty-two percent of these developed
allergic rhinitis by age six years, as diagnosed by physicians.30
If an infant or child is having chronic or recurrent problems,
ruling out allergies as the cause would be logical and appropriate.
This health model is very easy to apply, has no risk, only takes
a week to attain initial results and is very gratifying to parents--and
especially to the infant (if they could only talk). It is a blessing
to experience the many happy parents and grandparents who have
applied this model of ruling out allergies as a source of most
infant problems. It certainly is much wiser than allowing the
baby to continuously suffer or administer questionable antibiotics
or perform surgery. Shouldn't we apply the least invasive treatment
first? I remain highly confident in this model and its validity
based upon the many articles and patients' anecdotal experiences.
There is nothing more rewarding than a mother saying that since
she eliminated cows milk or another allergen from her infant's
diet that her baby's ear infection, reflux, rash, insomnia or
other atopic related problem is no more.
Please share this information with others. You will find them
grateful.
Footnotes:
1. Terr, A.I. Allergic Diseases. In D.P. Stites, J.D. Stobo, and
J. V. Wells, Eds., Basic and Clinical Immunology, 6th ed. Norwalk,
Conn.: Appleton and Lange, 1987.
2. Walker, W.A., Isselbacher, K.J. and Block, K.J. Intestinal
uptake of macromolecules: Effect of oral immunization. Science
177:608, 1972.
3. Walker, W.A., Wu, M., Isselbacher, K.J. and Bloch, K.J. Intestinal
uptake of macromolecules. Ill. Studies of mechanisms by which
immunization interferes with antigen uptake. J. Immunol. 115:854,
1975.
4. Walker, W.A. Host defense mechanisms in the gastrointestinal
tract. Pediatrics 57:901, 1976.
5. Walker, W.A. Antigen absorption from the small intestine and
gastrointestinal disease. Pediatr. Clin. North Am. 22:731, 1975.
6. Lyon, G.M. Allergy in an infant of three weeks. Am. J. Dis.
Child. 36:1012, 1928.
7. Miller, D.L., Hirvonen, T., and Gitlin, D. Synthesis of IgE
by the human conceptus. J.Allergy Clin, Immunol. 52:182,1973.
8. Singer, A.D., Hobel, C.J., and Heiner, D.C. Evidence for secretory
IgA and IgE in utero. J. Allergy Clin.Immunol. 53:94,1974.
9. Hat, A., Husby, S., Gjesing, B., Larsen, J.N., Lwenstein, H.
Prospective estimation of IgG, IgG subclass and IgE antibodies
to dietary proteins in infants with cow milk allergy. Levels of
antibodies to whole milk protein, BLG and ovalbumin in relation
to repeated milk challenge and clinical source of cow milk allergy.
Allergy Jun 1992;47:219-229.
10. Kobayashi, Y., Kondo, N., Shinoda, S., Agata, H., et. Al.
Predictive values of cord blood lymphocyte responses to food antigens
in allergic disorders during infancy. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1994
Nov;94(5):90716.
11. Hat, A., Jacobsen, H.P., Halken, S., Holmenlund, D. The natural
history of cow's milk protein allergy/ intolerance. Eur J Clin
Nutr Sep 1995;49Suppl 1, S13-18.
12. Bjorksten, B., Jellman, NIM. Perinatal factors influencing
the development of atopic disease. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1980;64:422-30.
13. Miller, D., Hirvonen, T., Gitlin, T. Synthesis of IgE by the
human conceptus. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1973;52;182-8.
14. Michel, F.B., Bousquet, L., Greiller, P., Robinet-Leby, M.,
Coulomb, Y. Comparison of cord blood Immunoglobulin E and maternal
allergy for the prediction of atopic disease. J Allergy Clin Immunol
1980;64:422-30.
15. Donnally, H.H. The question of the elimination of foreign
protein (egg white) in woman's milk. J. Immunol. 19:15, 1930.
16. Businco, L., Aanttani, A., Meglio, P., Bruno, G. Prevention
of atopy: results of a long-term (7 months to 8 years) follow-up.
Ann Allergy 1987; 59:183-86.
17. Lilja, G., Dannaeus, A., Fouchard, T., Graff-Lonnevig, B.,
Hohansson, S.G.O., Ohman, H. Effects of maternal diet during late
pregnancy and lactation on the development of atopic diseases
in infants up to eighteen months of age in-vivo results. clin
Exp. Allergy 1989; 19:473-79.
18. Sorva, R, Makinen-Kiljunen, S., Juntunen-Backman, K. Beta-lactoglobulin
secretion in human milk varies widely after cows milk ingestion
in mothers of infants with cow's milk allergy. J Allergy Clin
Immunol 1994 Apr;93:787-792.
19. Isolauri, E. The treatment of cow's milk allergy. Eur J Clin
Nutr 1995 Sep; 49 Suppl 1:S49-55.
20. .Jimenez, R., Fragoso, T., Sagaro, E., Bacallao, J. Influence
of breast feeding on nutritional development of infants with persistent
diarrhea. Acta Gastroenterol Latinoam 1995;25:41-48.
21. Cow's milk as a cause of infantile colic in breast-fed infants.
Lancet 2 1978:437.
22. Dietary protein-induced colitis in breast-fed infants. J.
Petiatr. 1982; 10 1:906.
23. Rudzka-Kantoch, Z. Dietary therapy used for food allergy in
infants and young children. Pediatr Pol 1996 Jan;65:30-35.
24. Fukushima, Y., Kawata, Y., Onda, T., Kitagawa, M. Consumption
of cow milk and egg by lactating women and the presence of beta-lactoglobulin
and ovalbumin in breast milk. Am J Clin Nutr 1997 Jan;65:30-35.
25. de Boissieu, D., Matarazzo, P., Rochiccioli, F., Dupont, C.
Multiple food allergy: a possible diagnosis in breast-fed infants.
Acta Paediatr 1997 Oct;86(10):1042-1046.
26. Department of Pediatrics, University of Roma La Sapienza,
Italy. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunool. 1995 May;74(5):431-6.
27. Hat, A., Halken, S. A prospective study of cow milk allergy
in Danish infants during the first 3 years of life. Clinical course
in relation to clinical and immunological type of hypersensitivity
reaction. Allergy 1990 Nov;45:587-96.
28. Hst, A., Jacobsen, H.P., Halken, S., Holmenlund, D. The natural
history of cows milk protein allergy/ intolerance. Eur J Clin
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29. Anderson, J.A., Milestones Marking the knowledge of adverse
reactions to food in the decade of the 1980's. Ann Allergy. 1994;72:143-154.
30. Wright, A.L., Holberg, C.J., Martinez, F.D., Holonen, M.,
Morgan, W., Taussig, L.M. Epidemiology of physician-diagnosed
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