Vegan Health Tips with Michael Klaper, M.D.

Michael Klaper, M.D. is the author of Pregancy, Children, and the Vegan Diet; one of only a few books that covers vegan pregnancy on the market today. He has postgraduate training in medicine, surgery, anesthesiology, and obstetrics. He continues to educate people on the benefits of a vegan diet.

Disclaimer: The medical opinions stated here are for educational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified health care provider.

Question:

My 15 month old has red circles under her eyes all the time. She sleeps 13-15 hours a day, is very energetic. She is on soy formula which contains a lot of corn syrup. Someone suggested to me that she might be allergic to soy or corn products. How should I go about finding out if this is true? What could be causing the red circles?

Answer:

If corn allergy is a consideration, that possibility can be eliminated by changing the infant's formula to Nursoy ready-to-feed concentrated liquid. It is soy-based and corn-free. If changing to this brand eliminates the problem, then corn protein allergy can be inferred.. Corn-based products should then be avoided, to the greatest extent possible, for the next several months while the immature intestinal lining becomes less permeable to corn protein. A challenge with corn protein can be made 6 to 12 months later. If any adverse symptoms are noted after reintroduction of corn-containing products, e.g. loose stools, skin rash, runny nose, wheezing, etc., then corn proteins should be avoided to the greatest extent possible in the diet for the next several years, if not permanently. Occasional re-challenge with corn proteins can be attempted every few years to see if the sensitivity persists, however, if the symptoms become more severe with subsequent challenges, the testing should cease.

If this is a soy allergy - and it does not sound like a severe one - she should be given a trial of soy-free feeding to see if her symptoms abate. This can be done as soon as her teeth and digestive system are sufficiently mature to enable her to obtain sufficient energy and protein from the solid foods in her diet - thus freeing her from relying upon the calorie-dense liquid formula. Fortunately, she may already be at this age or will approach it shortly - it usually occurs between 12 to 24 months of age. At that time, she should be changed to a rice-based drinking beverage with ample amounts of nutrient-dense foods, such as nut and seed butters (walnut, almond, sesame, etc), bean spreads, pea soup, hummus, mashed potatoes, avocados, etc. These rich foods will supply the energy and proteins she was obtaining through the infant formula. Since infants must have adequate vitamin D, B-12, riboflavin and other nutrients in order to utilize the nutrients they are ingesting - and thus to grow - be sure she is on a quality liquid vitamin/mineral preparation, suitable for toddlers. During her first five years, she should be weighed every four weeks and her growth plotted on a normal growth chart, available through your pediatrician's or family physician's office. Her growth paralleling a normal growth curve on the chart is the best evidence that all nutrients are being supplied by her diet and that her body is utilizing them appropriately.

Soy in all forms should then be eliminated for several weeks to see if the red circles or any other symptoms disappear. If this is observed, soy products can be re-introduced in a few weeks or months, and if the red circles reappear, then soy allergy can be inferred. At that time, soy should probably be omitted from her diet for several months to years, until her intestinal tract matures, as in the case of corn, discussed above.

Why do children develop allergies to corn, soy and other products in their formula? Some of the mechanism must result from the fact that the intestinal membranes of infants are immature, and thus more permeable to large molecules that, in older humans, are not permitted to cross from the intestinal tract in to the bloodstream. This increased intestinal permeability is usually not a problem - in fact, it is a good thing - because the child would naturally be consuming his or her mother's breast milk. This life-giving liquid contains antibodies, large molecules that are supposed to cross into the infants bloodstream and provide protection against infectious viruses and bacteria that the babies own immune system is too immature to produce. However, this same permeability can lead to trouble if it allows large amounts of foreign proteins - like soy or corn or egg or beef - to enter the child's blood stream. These substances, especially if introduced too early, can lead to food allergies and sensitivities. Breast really is best - but sometimes, substitutes must be found. (In any case, it should be evident that the later that complex food molecules are introduced, the more mature the intestinal membranes will be, and the less chance of food allergies developing. Thus parents should not be in a great hurry to get the children to eat solid cereals at just a few months of age. They will save their children many problems if they wait until 5 to 6 months or later before introducing cereals - except rice-based pablums - and other grain-based solids. Emphasize fruits and pureed veggies during this time.)

The above-described condition of naturally increased permeability can be exacerbated by conditions that injure or inflame the intestinal lining - like yeast infections. Young children are prone to Candida yeast overgrowth in their mouths and digestive tract ("thrush"). Such a yeast overgrowth may further increase the permeability of their immature (and thus already-permeable) intestinal membranes. This state of increased intestinal permeability (the so-called "leaky gut syndrome") can allow various food proteins to find their way into her bloodstream and subsequently, her tears - possibly causing the irritated eyes you observe. It may be helpful to assure that her intestinal flora is as benign as possible by giving her non-dairy acidophilus several times weekly. This product can help the infant's intestinal tract resist yeast overgrowth and comes in liquid or powder form. It can be mixed into her drinking beverage or added to solid foods. If she shows signs of clinical thrush (white patches in the mouths, red rashes near the anus, etc.), talk to your physician about possible anti-yeast therapies.

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