title: Health effects of cow's milk consumption in infants up to 3 years of age: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To summarize the best available evidence regarding the short- and long-term health effects of cow's milk intake in healthy, full-term infants up to 3 years of age.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE and the Cochrane Library between 1960 and July 2013 and manually reviewed reference lists of pertinent articles. Two researchers independently reviewed abstracts and full-text articles and extracted relevant data.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included (randomized/non-randomized) controlled trials and observational studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We included data from twenty-three studies (one randomized controlled trial, four non-randomized controlled trials, eight case-control studies and ten cohort studies) for the evidence synthesis. Pooled results of four studies revealed a higher risk of Fe-deficiency anaemia for infants consuming cow's milk compared with those consuming follow-on formula (relative risk=3·76; 95 % CI 2·73, 5·19). For type 1 diabetes mellitus, six out of seven case-control studies did not show a difference in the risk of developing this disease based on the age of introduction of cow's milk. We did not find negative associations for other health effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cow's milk consumption in infancy is associated with an increased risk of developing Fe-deficiency anaemia. Limiting cow's milk consumption may be important to ensure an adequate Fe intake for infants and toddlers. High-quality patient information for caregivers is needed on how infants' Fe requirements can be met.
authors.affiliation: 1Department for Evidence-based Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology,Danube University Krems,Karl-Dorrek-Strasse 30,3500 Krems,Austria.
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Griebler
authors.affiliation: 2AGES (Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety),Data,Statistics & Risk Assessment - Centre for Nutrition & Prevention,Vienna,Austria.
authors.forename: Melanie U
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Bruckmüller
authors.affiliation: 1Department for Evidence-based Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology,Danube University Krems,Karl-Dorrek-Strasse 30,3500 Krems,Austria.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kien
authors.affiliation: 2AGES (Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety),Data,Statistics & Risk Assessment - Centre for Nutrition & Prevention,Vienna,Austria.
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dieminger
authors.affiliation: 2AGES (Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety),Data,Statistics & Risk Assessment - Centre for Nutrition & Prevention,Vienna,Austria.
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Meidlinger
authors.affiliation: 2AGES (Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety),Data,Statistics & Risk Assessment - Centre for Nutrition & Prevention,Vienna,Austria.
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Seper
authors.affiliation: 2AGES (Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety),Data,Statistics & Risk Assessment - Centre for Nutrition & Prevention,Vienna,Austria.
authors.forename: Ariane
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hitthaller
authors.affiliation: 1Department for Evidence-based Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology,Danube University Krems,Karl-Dorrek-Strasse 30,3500 Krems,Austria.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Emprechtinger
authors.affiliation: 2AGES (Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety),Data,Statistics & Risk Assessment - Centre for Nutrition & Prevention,Vienna,Austria.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.affiliation: 1Department for Evidence-based Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology,Danube University Krems,Karl-Dorrek-Strasse 30,3500 Krems,Austria.
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gartlehner
mesh_terms: D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000209:etiology*; D000818:Animals; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000209:etiology; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D041943:Infant Formula / Q000737:chemistry*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk / Q000009:adverse effects*
keywords: Cow’s milk consumption; Infants; Systematic review