Goat Milk-Based Infant Formula: Can it Help Prevent Cow Milk Protein Allergy in Infants?

This post was written in partnership with Kabrita Goat Milk-Based Infant Formula. All opinions are my own. If you are a healthcare provider, join Kabrita’s Medical Herd to get access to new research, free continued education to share with your patients and peers, and invites to in-person and virtual events. To learn more about food allergy prevention, watch this free, continuing education webinar that I recently presented, called “Preventing Food Allergies Through Early Infant Feeding Practices,”  which is accredited for dietitians and nurses.

Goat milk-based infant formula has increased in popularity as an alternative to cow’s milk-based formulas, largely due to its gentler and more digestible proteins. While goat milk-based formula may be suitable for some infants with mild cow’s milk sensitivities, it is not safe for most babies with cow’s milk protein allergy due to the potential for cross-reactivity.

With food allergy prevalence on the rise, more research has been devoted to learning about prevention. Could goat milk help prevent cow’s milk protein allergy? In this article, we’ll explore the differences between goat and cow milk proteins, the scientific evidence behind goat milk’s potential benefits, and whether it may be helpful in preventing cow milk protein allergy.

What is Cow Milk Protein Allergy?

Cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA), also known as milk protein allergy, is an adverse reaction to the protein molecules found in cow milk, which include whey and casein. It is more common among males and those who have atopic diseases such as eczema and asthma. 

It is also more common during infancy in formula-fed babies; only about 0.5% of exclusively breastfed infants show reactions to cow’s milk protein compared to 2%- 7.5% of formula-fed infants. 

CMPA can be expressed in various forms, ranging from mild discomfort to severe allergic reactions with symptoms of anaphylaxis in some cases, although severe reactions are uncommon in infancy.

There are two primary types of milk protein allergy: IgE-mediated and non-IgE-mediated. An IgE-mediated allergy involves the immune system producing antibodies called immunoglobulin E (IgE) in response to milk proteins. 

On the other hand, non-IgE-mediated cow milk protein allergy involves delayed reactions that most often cause signs and symptoms affecting the digestive system, although the skin and other organs can be affected as well. 

CMPA differs from cow’s milk intolerance (i.e. lactose intolerance), though they can have overlapping symptoms, and the terms are often incorrectly used interchangeably. Cow’s milk intolerance is a gastrointestinal inability to digest cow’s milk; for example, an inability to digest lactose, which is the sugar in cow’s milk. 

Note that lactose intolerance in infants is extremely rare. The vast majority of babies are born with sufficient lactase to digest breast milk and formula, and if lactose intolerance is going to develop, it is generally not until much later in childhood or even into adulthood.

Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy Symptoms

Cow milk protein allergy in infants can cause a wide range of symptoms. The onset of CMPA symptoms in infants can vary, but signs typically start appearing within hours to a few days after introducing a new food that contains cow milk proteins. Most symptoms of CMPA appear within the first few weeks of life in response to infant formula.

Symptoms of IgE-mediated allergy can be mild to severe and typically occur within a few minutes to 2 hours after ingestion. Most commonly, a baby with this allergy will develop hives, stomach upset, and/or vomiting. Though more rare, it can also cause other immediate allergic reactions, including facial swelling, wheezing, and trouble breathing. 

Non-IgE-mediated allergic reactions usually have a delayed onset and occur after 2 hours or more of ingesting milk proteins. Symptoms typically include gas, diarrhea, and mucousy stools and/or blood in the stools. Non-IgE-mediated CMPA typically involves the GI tract, but less commonly will also affect the skin and may lead to respiratory symptoms as well.

It’s important to note that these symptoms of milk allergy can vary and may overlap with other conditions. For any parents who suspect that they are seeing cow’s milk allergy symptoms in their babies, consult with a healthcare professional and/or allergy specialist for an accurate diagnosis, and do not try to diagnose an allergy yourself. 

Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy Treatment

The standard treatment for CMPA is to eliminate cow’s milk proteins from the baby’s diet. Because only a tiny amount of cow’s milk proteins are transferred to a baby while breastfeeding, a dairy-free diet for breastfeeding moms is not always necessary.

Many babies can continue to breastfeed while their mom eats a diet that includes dairy. 

However, when there are symptoms of dairy allergy in a breastfed baby, the mom may need to restrict dairy from her diet (and possibly also follow a soy-free diet as well).

It is important to note that this decision is best made in conjunction with a pediatrician or allergy specialist. For more info on breastfeeding a baby with cow’s milk protein allergy, check out this blog post.

Formula-fed babies with CMPA will need to switch to a specialized hypoallergenic formula. While soy formulas can be a good alternative for some infants with milk protein intolerance, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, they are not universally recommended for infants because up to half the infants with milk allergies are also allergic to soy protein. 

Goat milk proteins are similar in some ways to cow milk proteins and show cross-reactivity. Therefore, they are not advised as an alternative to cow’s milk as a formula base for infants with already diagnosed IgE-mediated cow’s milk allergies. However, studies show that up to 40-100% of infants with a non-IgE mediated allergy to cow’s milk may tolerate goat milk better due to key differences in protein structure. 

**If you want to learn more about the best formula for babies with CMPA, take a look at this post. And remember, before making any formula changes, it’s essential to consult a pediatrician, registered dietitian, or other health care provider!

Can Goat Milk Infant Formula Help Prevent CMPA?

The history of infant formula has evolved significantly, with advancements in nutritional composition and safety regulations. In the United States, the Infant Formula Act and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ensure that all infant formula manufacturers who sell products in the US meet nutritional standards, whether cow milk protein, soy milk, or goat milk-based.

While goat milk and cow’s milk are similar in the amount of total protein content, goat milk proteins are easier to digest and show lower allergenicity than cow’s milk due to a lower content of αS1-casein (a specific protein in milk). Because of this lower specific protein content, new research shows that goat milk-based formula might be a better choice over cow’s milk formula as a first source of protein when breastfeeding is not possible, or after the breastfeeding period.

Some studies also show promising research that goat milk could play a role in preventing sensitization to cow’s milk proteins. This means that offering goat milk baby formula to babies may help decrease the risk of IgE-mediated food allergy to milk proteins because it provides a way to expose babies early and often to allergenic proteins they may more easily tolerate, which may help build and maintain tolerance to those proteins over time. 

More research is needed, but this is exciting for the future of food allergy prevention! 

What is the best goat milk-based infant formula brand?

Only a small handful of goat milk-based infant formula brands are currently available in the U.S.; however, Kabrita goat milk-based infant formula is the first and only European infant formula that has gone through the entire rigorous FDA review process. More than 1.2 million babies worldwide are fed with Kabrita every day! 

An extensively researched, high-quality goat milk-based infant formula that has been proven to be safe and suitable for use in infants from birth through 12 months, Kabrita is produced by Ausnutria, a Dutch dairy company with a history of more than 75 years in the production of infant formula. 

Made without GMO ingredients, corn syrup, or maltodextrin, Kabrita is produced in the Netherlands and adheres to strict European standards that limit the use of antibiotics, growth hormones, and pesticides. It contains 25 vitamins and minerals to support babies' growth and development, including vitamin D, folic acid, iron, DHA and ARA, and nucleotides, and is the only infant formula company to proactively make heavy metal testing data publicly available to healthcare providers and customers, who can trace the results for a specific can of infant formula on our website to ensure its safety and high-quality nutrition.

Additionally, Kabrita is the first and only goat milk-based formula to achieve Clean Label Project's three strict certifications: Purity Award, Pesticide-Free Certification, and First 1,000 Day Promise Certification.

Kabrita goat milk formula also contains a specific fat (sn-2 palmitic acid) that closely resembles a fat found in breast milk. This fat has been shown to increase calcium and fat absorption, improve sleep and stool consistency, and reduce gas, colic, and crying episodes. 

Be sure to consult with your healthcare provider first if you are thinking about switching formula products for your baby to ensure that your child’s nutritional needs are safely met.

* If you are a parent looking for high-quality feeding options for your baby that more closely resemble breast milk, learn more about Kabrita, the #1 goat milk infant formula brand worldwide.

* If you are a healthcare provider, join Kabrita’s Medical Herd to receive educational newsletters, research updates, and invitations to events and stay up to date on the latest infant nutrition and product information.

Thanks for reading!