Vocalist.org archive


From:  "John Messmer, M.D." <jjm23@p...>
Date:  Wed Sep 13, 2000  8:51 pm
Subject:  Re: [vocalist-temporary] Vegetarianism and Allergies


Well, I just thought I'd jump into the fray here and make a few comments
about the allergy issue as related to foods. Let me just say that all the
foregoing discussion about reasons why milk from one mammal or another is
best for people and the evil formula companies and so on is best taken with
a pinch of salt. Small facts have a way of evolving with repetition to
falsehoods.

The immune system is so complex that a full discussion is more the subject
of an article in Nature, rather than Vocalist. There are many people who
consume and tolerate cows milk very well. Some people have receptors on
their immune cells that bind the various proteins in cow's milk and process
them so that antibodies form. Other people do not. It's that basic. If
you are allergic, don't drink it. BTW, the immune system does not react to
toxins; it reacts to allergens - substances that bind to receptors and
trigger the production of antibodies. Toxins are intrinsically harmful
although they can also be allergens.

BTW, we do not recommend cow's milk in the first year due to an association
with iron loss and anemia. Formula gets its protein from cow's milk or soy.
While the amino acids are balanced to resemble human milk, formula is not
sufficiently close to be an adequate substitute. If you are born with a
genetic predisposition to eczema, allergies, asthma you have a higher risk
of getting these early in life if exposed to the antigens early.

Human milk is not tolerated by severely lactose intolerant babies since the
sugar in human milk is lactose. If a child is born severely deficient in
lactase enzymes, s/he will have trouble with human milk. There are several
lactose-free formulas available.

I avoid giving advice on this list about pedagogy or other strictly vocal
issues since I have neither the training nor the experience. I listen to
and evaluate what others say for the benefits I can gain. Similarly, I
would respectfully ask that all list members refrain from repeating hearsay
or opinion as fact when discussing biology and medicine. It will be better
for those not in a position to sort the comments out if you do. Thanks.

John

John Messmer, M.D.
Assistant Professor, Family & Community Medicine
Penn State College of Medicine




  Replies Name/Email Yahoo! ID Date Size
4303 OFF: Evil Nestle WAS:Vegetarianism and Allergies Tako Oda   Wed  9/13/2000   5 KB
4308 Re: OFF: Evil Nestle WAS:Vegetarianism and Allerg stjames@l...   Wed  9/13/2000   3 KB
4317 Re: Vegetarianism and Allergies saint james   Thu  9/14/2000   3 KB

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