Mothers' diet key to breast-feeding allergic baby

CHICAGO (Reuters) -- Babies allergic to milk might tolerate breast milk if their mothers eliminate nuts, eggs, cow's milk and fish from their diets, the leading U.S. pediatricians' group said Monday.

Up to 3 percent of babies are allergic to proteins found in cow's milk and breast milk, and some may have to be fed a hypoallergenic formula at three times the cost of standard formulas, according to a policy statement by the American Academy of Pediatrics that was published in the group's journal, Pediatrics.

But in many cases, breast-feeding mothers could try dietary changes such as cutting out eggs, milk, fish, peanuts and tree nuts such as almonds, the statement said.

"Breast-feeding mothers on a restricted diet should consider the use of supplemental minerals (like calcium) and vitamins," the statement said.

Pregnant mothers deemed at high risk of delivering a baby with an allergy need not worry about the dietary restrictions before giving birth, with the possible exception of eliminating peanuts, the statement said.

The group previously has recommended that mothers try to breast-feed exclusively for at least the first six months of a baby's life, based on findings that the nutrients found in breast milk reduce the risk of later respiratory ailments and other health problems.

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