Informing risk management for patients with cow’s milk allergy:
Threshold dose distributions from a large population of cow’s milk
allergy patients underwent very low dose food challenges
Abstract
Background The safe consumption of foods depends on their
allergen content in relation to patient Low Observed Adverse Effect
Level (LOAEL) and No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL), and other
factors. In the case of milk, data on LOAEL and NOAEL is limited and
conflicting. Objective To determine the threshold dose
distribution and the lowest individual ED for milk in a large group of
milk allergic patients Methods Individuals with confirmed cow’s
milk allergy who underwent either a diagnostic or pre-oral immunotherapy
(OIT) open milk oral food challenge in The Institute of Allergy,
Immunology, and Pediatric Pulmonology at Shamir Medical Center, between
2010 and 2015 were included. A subgroup of patients with severe milk
allergy underwent a modified challenge with 90-120 minute-interval
following a dose of 0.3 mg cow’s milk protein. Results A total of
866 participants (193 with diagnostic challenges and 673 with pre-OIT
challenges) were included in the study. The discrete ED
01 and ED 05, or values derived where
1% or 5% of the respective allergic population would be predicted to
experience an allergic reaction, were 1.1-1.9 and 4.7-5.6 mg milk
protein, respectively, and the values for cumulative doses for ED
01 and ED 05 were 0.9-1.8 and 5.2-6.2 mg
milk protein, respectively. None of the patients, including the most
severe milk allergic individuals who underwent the modified challenge,
reacted to the first 0.3 mg protein dose. Discussion This report
provides valuable information on milk NOAELs, LOAELs and EDs which might
assist regulators in their decisions on food labeling in general, and
for milk in particular. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS The current study, using
the largest studied population, demonstrates that milk NOAELs and LOAELs
are higher than previously described. No patient reacted to
<1mg milk protein. CAPSULE SUMMARY The finding of higher LOAEL
and NOAEL and of a “safe dose” is important for mainly for regulators
but as well as milk allergic patients and families in their decisions on
milk labeling.