Are camel milk proteins convenient to the nutrition of cow milk allergic children?

Abstract

Camel, cow and human milk proteins were prepared and analyzed by two different gel electrophoretic techniques. The immunological cross-reactivity between camel and cow milk proteins was tested using immunoblotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) techniques. Camel milk proteins have unique electrophoretic patterns that are completely different from cow and human milk proteins. When specific antisera to camel milk proteins were applied in immunoblotting (Western blot) analysis, results showed the absence of immunological cross-reactivity between camel and cow milk proteins. Similar results were obtained when sera from some children allergic to cow milk were tested for the specificity of their immunoglobulin E (IgE) to camel milk proteins. The study concluded that the absence of immunological similarity between camel and cow milk proteins can be considered an important criterion from the nutritional and clinical points of view, since camel milk may be suggested as a new protein source for nutrition for children allergic to cow milk and can be used as such or in a modified form. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.