Sensitive detection of major food allergens in breast milk: first gateway for allergenic contact during breastfeeding

Allergy. 2015 Aug;70(8):1024-7. doi: 10.1111/all.12646. Epub 2015 May 27.

Abstract

Food allergy is recognized as a major public health issue, especially in early childhood. It has been hypothesized that early sensitization to food allergens maybe due to their ingestion as components dissolved in the milk during the breastfeeding, explaining reaction to a food, which has never been taken before. Thus, the aim of this work has been to detect the presence of the food allergens in breast milk by microarray technology. We produced a homemade microarray with antibodies produced against major food allergens. The antibody microarray was incubated with breast milk from 14 women collected from Fundación Jiménez Díaz Hospital. In this way, we demonstrated the presence of major foods allergens in breast milk. The analysis of allergens presented in breast milk could be a useful tool in allergy prevention and could provide us a key data on the role of this feeding in tolerance induction or sensitization in children.

Keywords: antibody array; breast milk; food allergens; food allergy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Allergens / analysis
  • Allergens / immunology*
  • Breast Feeding / adverse effects*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Food Hypersensitivity / diagnosis
  • Food Hypersensitivity / immunology
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Milk Hypersensitivity / diagnosis*
  • Milk Hypersensitivity / epidemiology
  • Milk Hypersensitivity / immunology
  • Milk, Human / immunology*
  • Risk Assessment
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Sex Factors

Substances

  • Allergens