Allergy hopes in butter

Researchers are testing whether children who eat butter suffer fewer allergic reactions than those who eat margarine. Photo / Greg Bowker

A slice of bread and butter a day could help children suffering from eczema, asthma and other allergies. Researchers at Auckland and Otago Universities are testing whether children who eat butter, instead of margarine, suffer fewer allergic reactions.

If proved it would reverse common wisdom for many parents, who believe dairy products can worsen or even cause their child's symptoms.

Auckland University professor Peter Black said overseas research had shown a reduction in allergies in children with more butter in their diet and a small study here showed a drop in asthma symptoms. Childhood allergies have more than tripled in developing countries in the past 40 years, a rise generally attributed to changing diets and lifestyle.

Black said latest evidence suggested the trend towards eating more margarine had played a part. "Generally it's taken to be a good thing, because margarine has less saturated fat, so we don't want people consuming vast amounts of butter," Black said.

Fellow Auckland University professor Rod Jackson has called for butter to be taxed because it's so high in saturated fats and low in protein and calcium.

His comments about butter being a "poison" prompted hate mail, the Listener reported.

But Black said there could be benefits in eating just 10g a day - about enough to spread one slice of bread. And while some believe dairy products can inflame allergies, Black said that was not backed by evidence. "True milk allergy exists but it's not common and children often grow out of it."

National co-ordinator for eczema support group Itchy Kids, Fleur Midalia, said any new research was welcome.

Midalia's son Ben Cleveland, 7, has suffered from the condition since he was 3 months old and is allergic to dairy and nuts. But she said cutting out particular foods can help many kids.

"Sometimes once your child is in such a bad state they tend to react to everything."

The study will look at the effect of eating butter and an enriched product made by feeding cows fish oil.

The project is funded by LactoPharma, a venture between Fonterra and Auckland University.

* Researchers are looking for 100 children aged between 2 and 16 in Auckland and Wellington with mild to moderate eczema, to take part in the six-week study.
Auckland, phone: (09) 373 7599 extension 86580
Wellington, phone: (04) 918 6780