title: Bone mineral status in children with cow milk allergy.
abstract: To investigate bone mineral status in children with verified cow milk allergy for more than 4 yr compared with a large reference population of 343 local healthy controls. Whole body bone mineral content (BMC), projected bone area and bone mineral density (BMD) were determined by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry in nine children (8-17 yr old, one girl and eight boys). All children had cow milk allergy for more than 4 yr. All children had asthma and was treated with corticosteroids. BMC and BMD were reduced for age (p < 0.01). Height for age was significantly reduced (p < 0.01), indicating 'short' bones. BMC for bone area was borderline reduced (p = 0.05), indicating reduced bone mineralization. The growth of the children was reduced compared with there parents and siblings (p < 0.01), and the bone age was retarded (mean 1.4 yr, p < 0.01). Calcium consumption calculated from food intake was about 25% of the recommended. All laboratory tests were normal. Short bones were the main reason for reduced BMC and BMD for age in children with cow milk allergy, but a borderline low BMC for bone area indicated reduced bone mineralization of the bones. A supplementation of calcium to children with cow milk allergy is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Gentofte University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark. braendholt@dadlnet.dk
authors.forename: Vagn Braendholt
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Inger Merete
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Jørgensen
authors.forename: Kirsten Braendholt
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mølgaard
authors.forename: Palle
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Prahl
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000379:methods; D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D001846:Bone Development / Q000502:physiology; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016269:Milk Hypersensitivity / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D012016:Reference Values; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D002136:Calcium, Dietary