Study reveals organic milk helps reduce eczema in children

A newly published scientific study shows that incidence of eczema in infants fed on organic dairy products, and whose mothers also consumed organic dairy products, have a 36 per cent lower incidence of eczema than children who consume conventional dairy products.

The findings, published in British Journal of Nutrition, add to body of evidence showing that organic food contains higher levels of beneficial nutrients than non-organic foods. This is the first example of a definite health impact of organic food consumption being published in a peer reviewed journal.

The scientists’ have presented a hypothesis for the reasons behind the findings, which comes down to something called CLAs (conjugated linoleic acid isomers).

CLAs are already known, among scientists and nutritionists, to be beneficial to health. A higher level of CLAs is found in milk from organically managed cows and also in the breast milk of organic milk drinking mothers.

This therefore underpins the hypothesis that the breast milk of organic milk drinking mothers are a key mechanism in reducing eczema, as well as the organic dairy diet of the infants themselves.

Peter Melchett, Soil Association policy director said: ‘The scientists' findings of over a third fewer cases of eczema among children fits in with the experience of many people who eat organic food. Given the strong evidence that organic has more beneficial nutrients, and the absence of harmful additives, common sense suggests that organic food is better for your health.’

In total, five studies have now shown that organic milk has more beneficial levels of several nutrients than non-organic milk including omega-3 essential fatty acid, Vitamin E and beta-carotene.