Expert: Gary - 5/8/2005

Question
Gary,
Is food, e.g. milk and milkproducts known to have any influence on asthma?

Greetings, Agnes

Answer
Dear Agnes

The influence that various foods have on asthma is a controversial topic. It isn't fully understood. Some experts believe that asthma is never, or hardly ever, related to food or food allergy. Others think it is quite common. Most people agree though (and I'm one of these) that food allergy does exist but it is only rarely an important trigger for asthma. It is more likely to occur in people that have other allergic conditions such as the skin condition "urticaria" and in those people whose asthma is triggered by dust, pollen, and animals.

You specifically ask about milk and we know that cow's milk and its products are amongst the most common foodstuffs to trigger asthma. However, it's important that you take a sensible and systematic approach to identifying which foods influence your asthma and which don't before you begin "blaming" a particular food and removing it from your diet.

Hope this helps

Regards

Gary