Milk and diabetes… more evidence

| 2 June 2008
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Several studies suggest that the early introduction of cow’s milk infant formula can lead to type-1 diabetes in some children. This new study adds even more evidence that cow’s milk proteins can trigger this disease. Researchers from Portland, Maine found antibodies to bovine beta-lactoglobulin (a protein in cow’s milk) in the blood of children with diabetes. Those without diabetes did not have antibodies. Type 1 diabetes develops when antibodies destroy the insulin-producing pancreatic cells. Several studies have suggested that cow’s milk proteins may trigger the production of these harmful antibodies.

Goldfarb, M.F. 2008. Relation of time of introduction of cow milk protein to an infant and risk of type-1 diabetes mellitus. Journal of Proteome Research. 7 (5) 2165-2167.

About the author
Dr. Justine Butler
I joined Viva! as a health campaigner in 2005 after graduating from Bristol University with a PhD in molecular biology. My scientific training helped me research and write numerous reports, guides and fact sheets for Viva! including Meat the Truth, Fish-Free for Life, One in Nine (breast cancer and diet) and the substantial report on the detrimental health effects of consuming dairy; White Lies. This accompanied Viva!’s report The Dark Side of Dairy which spelt out the inherent cruelty of dairy farming. We were the first UK group to take on the dairy industry in this way, and many of our supporters go vegan after reading these reports.

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