Gluten Protein In Breast Milk

[home-based-mom]

Open Original Shared Link reminded me of something that has piqued my curiosity for awhile. I'm not sure where to post this so feel free to move it if you want.

Anyway, everyone seems to universally agree that if a mom (meaning human mom) eats food containing gluten, it winds up in her breast milk.

As milk from cows and goats is in a way mother's milk - just a mother cow or a mother goat - why is there not gluten in that milk? They certainly eat gluten!

No one that I have ever seen has even suggested that there is. So, why not?

Inquiring minds want to know.

[Ursa Major]

My theory is that it might be the reason why so many of us can't tolerate dairy. It would make sense, don't you think?

Of course, cows are fed soy and corn more often than wheat. One of my son-in-laws, who's family owns a dairy farm says, that a lot of those environmental freaks demand that cows are fed soy, because they WANT cow's milk to contain soy! And when tested, yes, that milk certainly contains soy, and would make people sick who are intolerant to it. That's why his family feeds soy to their cows.

[Ridgewalker]

:o :o :o :o

I've never thought of this!!!

This really makes me wonder.

[MDRB]

Hhhmmm,

Well my understanding is that cows are fed sprouted wheat which doesn't contain gluten, so it is ok for people with celiac disease but not for people with a wheat allergy?

I think only the wheat grain contains gluten because once sprouted it turns into some sort of amino acid.

Thats my understanding but I could be totally wrong.

Also, my doctor told me that I could react to dairy because the small intestines produce the enzyme which helps you digest dairy and when they are damaged in celiac patients it causes a dairy intolerance until the intestines are fully healed - this could be a reason for you reacting to dairy.

[gfp]

Anyway, everyone seems to universally agree that if a mom (meaning human mom) eats food containing gluten, it winds up in her breast milk.

Actually a lot of people seem to think not ... I'm not one of them though...

As milk from cows and goats is in a way mother's milk - just a mother cow or a mother goat - why is there not gluten in that milk? They certainly eat gluten!

No one that I have ever seen has even suggested that there is. So, why not?

Inquiring minds want to know.

It makes sense, I'm mot sure how much wheat they eat... but they must certainly have some.

First ...

Well my understanding is that cows are fed sprouted wheat which doesn't contain gluten

Well, perhaps it does and perhaps it doesn't. Gluten is produced in the actual seed part.. this is true BUT ... Its not actually gluten does the damage but a small part of gluten. Gluten is just the delivery mechanism. One has to presume that the component parts of gluten have to be present first (and supplied to the seed head) for gluten to be created by the wheat.

Cattle are given straw which must always contain a few heads of wheat or rye etc.

So again it seems impossible that their diet is gluten-free.

Also, my doctor told me that I could react to dairy because the small intestines produce the enzyme which helps you digest dairy and when they are damaged in celiac patients it causes a dairy intolerance until the intestines are fully healed - this could be a reason for you reacting to dairy.

Its certainly one reason but is it the whole story.

I think the main question is if cows actually do pass on gluten products in their milk ... ??

Unless someone tests I don't know a resolution ... the most significant difference between cows (ruminants) and many other mammals is their digestive system...

Direct from wikipedia:

Ruminants have a fore-stomach with four chambers. These are the rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum. In the first two chambers, the rumen and the reticulum, the food is mixed with saliva and separates into layers of solid and liquid material. Solids clump together to form the cud (or bolus). The cud is then regurgitated, chewed slowly to completely mix it with saliva and to break down the particle size, Fiber, especially cellulose and hemi-cellulose, is primarily broken down into the three volatile fatty acids, acetic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid in these chambers by microbes (bacteria, protozoa, and fungi). Protein and non-structural carbohydrate (pectin, sugars, starches) are also fermented.

I wouldn't want to hazard a guess. All I can say is that obviously cows digest very differently (and efficiently) than humans and a small amount of gluten might be far better broken down than with us?

[fedora]

A dr. told me years ago that "they" have found milk antibodies in babies who had never had milk. They were reacting to it in the breast milk. At the time I had started eating dairy after not having any for months while nursing. My son got congestion and swollen glands under his ear. I stopped dairy, it went away. I ate dairy, it came back. The dr. totally believed me.

I am not sure about with cows. Would make sense if it was the same.

I have gluten free friends who react to eggs , but say they do no react to eggs from gluten free chickens. We live in the country and there is a fair number of people who don't eat gluten here. I have wondered about this. They also don't eat any vinegar because they think it is contaminated. They are stricter then me.

[JennyC]

This subject bugs me. My son does fine on cows milk, but as a baby I am certain that he got gluten through my breast milk. As a baby he had three BMs a day that could clear a room! He also spit up milk constantly until I switched him to formula at 9 months. After that time his BMs were still bad because he was eating solid gluten foods. I have called a couple organic milk companies and they all fed their cows a combination of grains, including gluten. I just don't know...

[CuriousOne]

This is extremely interesting and needs to be figured out.

In california you can get the milk of cows that are grass-fed only.

I'm going off dairy now. I can't afford any chances anymore. This is my health. I don't do much diary except butter...which could have some in it. And occasional ice cream...ay.