Individuals who are sensitive to cow’s milk may face a heightened risk of dying from cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to new findings published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.[1]
The study focused on data from more than 4,500 adults who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES) or the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). The median follow-up time was nearly 14 years. Overall, 15% of participants were sensitive to at least one food, with cow’s milk, peanuts, eggs and shrimp coming in as the most common. Sensitivity in this case did not necessarily mean the patients were presenting with specific symptoms.
Patients sensitive to cow’s milk were more likely to present with diabetes. Meanwhile, obesity, high cholesterol and hypertension were not associated with an increased risk of presenting with any food sensitivities.
The authors found that presenting with at least one food sensitivity was associated with a higher risk of death from cardiovascular causes in both the NHANES and MESA groups. This association was the strongest among participants who were sensitive to milk. In addition, according to the NHANES data, “consumption was an important modifier of cardiovascular risk.”
“The magnitude of the identified associations are similar to or exceed those previously associated with smoking, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis,” explained first author Corinne Keet MD, PhD, with the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, and colleagues.
Keet et al. also noted that specialists have typically believed food sensitivities without overt allergies are “benign.” The findings appear to challenge that assumption.
“These data raise intriguing questions about the relevance of food sensitization and diet in CVD development, but further studies—including replication of the finding of modification by consumption, investigation of the cardiovascular subtypes implicated, and identification of biological mechanisms—will be important before any changes to medical practice can be considered,” the authors wrote.
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Michael has more than 16 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.