Clinical Trial: An Interventional Study of Milk Allergy

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: The Impact of the Diet Containing Limited Amounts of Processed Milk Protein on the Natural History of IgE-Mediated Milk Hypersensitivity

Brief Summary: Milk is the among the most common food allergens in infants and children. The majority of children outgrow their allergies; however, the exact mechanisms by which food tolerance is achieved are unknown. Strict avoidance of the offending food is currently the only known therapy. However, subjects have been known to lose food hypersensitivity while frequently ingesting small amounts of processed forms of the offending product. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether ingestion of small amounts of processed milk protein will be permitted without compromising the chances of either outgrowing milk hypersensitivity or prolonging the time needed to achieve clinical tolerance.

Detailed Summary:

In the United States, as many as 6% of children are affected by food allergy. Milk is among the most common food allergens in infants and children. Although strict avoidance of milk is the current standard of care for those with milk hypersensitivity, there is no conclusive evidence that absolute dietary restriction is necessary for achieving clinical tolerance. The purpose of this study is to determine whether ingestion of small amounts of extensively heated milk protein might be permitted without compromising the chances for ultimately losing milk hypersensitivity or prolonging the time needed to achieve clinical tolerance in a selected population of milk-allergic participants.

The study will last up to 48 months. Based on the result of the oral food challenge with baked milk the participants will be assigned to either Group 1 (baked milk-tolerant) or Group 2 (baked milk-reactive). Participants in the Group 1 may be further tested with regular, non-heated milk, depending on their diagnostic test results and clinical history. Participants tolerant to non-heated milk will be discharged from the study. Baked milk-tolerant, non-heated milk-reactive participants in Group 1 will receive diet with baked milk at home while Group 2 will act as the control and avoid milk consumption strictly.

Qualifying and willing participants will be assigned to Group 1, which will allow consumption of baked milk on a regular basis. Study visits will occur at Months 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, and 48. Participants in Group 1 will be given an OFC using non-heated milk to identify tolerant individuals at Months 12, 24, 36, and 48.

Participants in Group 2 will be contacted by telephone every 6 months and asked about the current state of their milk allergy. Participants in this group will be asked
Sponsor: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Current Primary Outcome: Tolerance to heated milk [ Time Frame: Throughout study ]

Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome: Development of tolerance to non-heated milk [ Time Frame: Throughout study ]

Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

Information By: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Dates:
Date Received: December 19, 2007
Date Started: June 2004
Date Completion:
Last Updated: July 30, 2012
Last Verified: July 2012