title: Cows' milk exclusion diet during infancy: Is there a long-term effect on children's eating behaviour and food preferences?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dietary restriction during infancy may influence later eating behaviour. The aim of this study was to determine whether consuming a cows' milk exclusion (CME) diet during infancy affects eating habits in later childhood, once cows' milk has been reintroduced into the diet.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children were recruited from two large birth cohort studies in the UK. A small number of participants were recruited from allergy clinic. Two groups were recruited: an experimental group of children who had consumed a CME diet during infancy and a control group, who had consumed an unrestricted diet during infancy. Parents and children completed questionnaires regarding eating behaviour and food preferences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 101 children of mean age 11.5 years were recruited (28 CME and 73 controls). The CME group scored significantly higher on 'slowness of eating' and on the combined 'avoidant eating behaviour' construct (p < 0.01). The number of foods avoided and symptoms was associated with higher levels of avoidant eating behaviour (p < 0.05). The CME group rated liking for several dairy foods (butter, cream, chocolate, full fat milk and ice cream) significantly lower than the control group (p < 0.05), although there were no significant differences seen for any other category of food.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated that consuming a CME diet during infancy has persistent and long-term effects on eating habits and food preferences. To reduce future negative eating behaviours, children's exclusion diets need to be as varied as possible and reintroduction of cows' milk products closely monitored.
authors.affiliation: David Hide Asthma and Allergy Centre, St. Mary's Hospital, Isle of Wight, UK.|School of Health Sciences and Social Work, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maslin
authors.affiliation: David Hide Asthma and Allergy Centre, St. Mary's Hospital, Isle of Wight, UK.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grundy
authors.affiliation: David Hide Asthma and Allergy Centre, St. Mary's Hospital, Isle of Wight, UK.
authors.forename: Gillian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Glasbey
authors.affiliation: David Hide Asthma and Allergy Centre, St. Mary's Hospital, Isle of Wight, UK.|School of Health Sciences and Social Work, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK.
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dean
authors.affiliation: David Hide Asthma and Allergy Centre, St. Mary's Hospital, Isle of Wight, UK.|University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Syed Hasan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Arshad
authors.affiliation: University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Grimshaw
authors.affiliation: University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.affiliation: University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.affiliation: David Hide Asthma and Allergy Centre, St. Mary's Hospital, Isle of Wight, UK.|School of Health Sciences and Social Work, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK.
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Venter
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002648:Child; D004035:Diet Therapy; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk / Q000276:immunology*; D016269:Milk Hypersensitivity / Q000178:diet therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens
keywords: cows' milk allergy; eating behaviour; fussy eating; infant diet