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Dr. Ton Baars
Department Immunopharmacology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands

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0 Fatty Acids
0 Raw milk
0 Prevention strategies
0 Antibiotic reduction
0 Milk and health

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Opinion
Published: 18 February 2021 in Frontiers in Pediatrics
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The article ‘Dietary Prevention of Atopic March in Pediatric Subjects with Cow's Milk Allergy’ in Frontiers of Pediatrics, 11 August 2020, reviews potential solutions to the current worldwide increase in cow’s milk allergies. The authors state that “In the last years, diet is emerging as a relevant strategy to prevent allergic diseases through the active modulation of among others the immune system.” We agree that there is an urgent need to find new dietary strategies to prevent food allergies as well as the allergic march. However, we feel that the authors of this review miss an important potentially preventive measure, namely raw, unpasteurized farm milk or more gently processed milk.There are review studies published about the role of raw milk in asthma and allergy (Braun-Fahrländer and Mutius, 2011; Sozańska, 2019; Brick et al., 2020). In more than 90% of epidemiological studies worldwide there was a protective effect of unprocessed cow’s milk consumption on the development of asthma, hay fever and atopic sensitization in both in farm and urban children (Braun-Fahrländer and Mutius, 2011). The meta-analysis of Brick et al. (2020) including 12 publications, show consistent protective outcomes of early and current raw milk consumption and asthma in both farm and non-farm children. Evidence was especially strong in the ALEX (Riedler et al., 2001) and the PARSIFAL studies (Waser et al., 2007) in several regions of continental Europe. The study by Perkin and Strachan (2006)...

ACS Style

Ton Baars; Agnes Wold; Dominique A. Vuitton; Johan Garssen; Anna Catharina Berge. Raw Cow Milk Consumption and the Atopic March. Frontiers in Pediatrics 2021, 9, 1 .

AMA Style

Ton Baars, Agnes Wold, Dominique A. Vuitton, Johan Garssen, Anna Catharina Berge. Raw Cow Milk Consumption and the Atopic March. Frontiers in Pediatrics. 2021; 9 ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ton Baars; Agnes Wold; Dominique A. Vuitton; Johan Garssen; Anna Catharina Berge. 2021. "Raw Cow Milk Consumption and the Atopic March." Frontiers in Pediatrics 9, no. : 1.

Validation study
Published: 27 November 2019 in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
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The self-assessment of perceived immune status is important, as this subjective observation leads individuals to decide whether or not to seek medical help or adapt their lifestyle. In addition, it can be used in clinical settings and research. The aim of this series of studies was to develop and validate a short questionnaire to assess perceived immune functioning. Five surveys were conducted among Dutch and International young healthy adults (18–30 years old), and two others among older age groups with various health complaints. For the first study, an existing immune functioning scale was modified and elaborated resulting in 23 immune-health-related items, of which the occurrence was rated on a 5-point Likert scale. A student sample was surveyed, and the results were used to shorten the 23-item listing into a 7-item scale with a predictive validity of 85%. Items include “sudden high fever”, “diarrhea”, “headache”, “skin problems (e.g., acne and eczema)”, “muscle and joint pain”, “common cold” and “coughing”. The scale is named Immune Status Questionnaire (ISQ), and it aims to assess perceived immune status over the preceding year. The second study revealed that the ISQ score correlated significantly with a 1-item perceived immune functioning (r = 0.383, p < 0.0001). In the third study, the final Likert scale descriptors were determined (“never”, “sometimes”, “regularly”, “often” and “(almost) always)”. The fourth study showed that the test–retest reliability of the ISQ is acceptable (r = 0.80). The fifth study demonstrated the association of ISQ scores with various neuropsychological and health correlates in an international sample, including perceived health and immune fitness, as well as levels of stress, fatigue, depression and anxiety. Study 6 demonstrated significant associations between ISQ scores and experiencing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms in a sample of insomnia patients. Study 7 compared the effect of a dietary intervention in participants reporting “poor health” versus “normal health”. It is shown that ISQ scores can differentiate between those with poor and normal health, and that an effective intervention is associated with a significant improvement in ISQ scores. Data from Study 7 were further used to determine an ISQ cut-off value for reduced immune functioning, and a direct comparison with 1-item perceived immune functioning scores enabled constructing the final scoring format of the ISQ. In conclusion, the ISQ has appropriate face, content, and construct validity and is a reliable, stable and valid method to assess the past 12 month’s perceived immune status.

ACS Style

Livia J. F. Wilod Versprille; Aurora J. A. E. Van De Loo; Marlou Mackus; Lizanne Arnoldy; Titia A. L. Sulzer; Sterre A. Vermeulen; Smedra Abdulahad; Hendrikje Huls; Ton Baars; Andrew Scholey; Aletta D. Kraneveld; Johan Garssen; Joris C. Verster. Development and Validation of the Immune Status Questionnaire (ISQ). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2019, 16, 4743 .

AMA Style

Livia J. F. Wilod Versprille, Aurora J. A. E. Van De Loo, Marlou Mackus, Lizanne Arnoldy, Titia A. L. Sulzer, Sterre A. Vermeulen, Smedra Abdulahad, Hendrikje Huls, Ton Baars, Andrew Scholey, Aletta D. Kraneveld, Johan Garssen, Joris C. Verster. Development and Validation of the Immune Status Questionnaire (ISQ). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2019; 16 (23):4743.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Livia J. F. Wilod Versprille; Aurora J. A. E. Van De Loo; Marlou Mackus; Lizanne Arnoldy; Titia A. L. Sulzer; Sterre A. Vermeulen; Smedra Abdulahad; Hendrikje Huls; Ton Baars; Andrew Scholey; Aletta D. Kraneveld; Johan Garssen; Joris C. Verster. 2019. "Development and Validation of the Immune Status Questionnaire (ISQ)." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16, no. 23: 4743.

Journal article
Published: 11 November 2019 in Nutrition & Food Science
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Purpose The purpose of this paper was to evaluate health conditions prior to and at least two months after the start of consuming raw fermented milk (RFM) products. Design/methodology/approach One-Item health score, 1-item immunity score, immune status (ISQ), mood, bowel and skin conditions were rated for the period prior and post switching to RFM products. A linear mixed model was used to evaluate the post to prior RFM health and mood scores, taking into account gender, location of living and health group. Data from 390 participants (mean age of 54 years old) were included for the analysis, of which 277 (45 per cent) were allocated to the poor health group. Participants were allocated to the poor health group if they reported being immune depressed or suffering from a chronic disease prior to RFM; otherwise, they were allocated to the normal health group. Findings The highest intake of RFM was from RF kefir. Post RFM, people consumed around 1 glass (200 ml) of RF kefir per day. After switching to RFM, significant improvements on health and mood scores were reported. The strongest improvements after switching to RFM consumption were seen in subjects from the poor health group. With the exception of skin score, all measured health items significantly improved (p < 0.001). Health, immunity, bowel and mood scores increased with around 20 per cent in the poor health group and around 8 per cent in the normal health group. Women had more health complaints prior to RFM and had stronger health improvement post RFM compared to men. Bowel and mood scores were overall lower in women than in men. Living location had no significant impact on RFM-related health changes. This consumer survey suggests that positive health and mood changes are associated with the consumption of RFM products. Originality/value The consumption of RFM products improved the self-reported health status of adults. Immune-depressed people or people suffering from a chronic disease prior to RFM reported the strongest impact on their health, immunity, bowel and mood scores post switching RFM consumption compared to people with a normal health.

ACS Style

Ton Baars; Catharina Berge; Johan Garssen; Joris Verster. The impact of raw fermented milk products on perceived health and mood among Dutch adults. Nutrition & Food Science 2019, 49, 1195 -1206.

AMA Style

Ton Baars, Catharina Berge, Johan Garssen, Joris Verster. The impact of raw fermented milk products on perceived health and mood among Dutch adults. Nutrition & Food Science. 2019; 49 (6):1195-1206.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ton Baars; Catharina Berge; Johan Garssen; Joris Verster. 2019. "The impact of raw fermented milk products on perceived health and mood among Dutch adults." Nutrition & Food Science 49, no. 6: 1195-1206.

Journal article
Published: 25 September 2019 in Complementary Therapies in Medicine
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Raw milk consumption is controversially discussed, and people are looking for raw milk due to expected positive health impacts. The purpose of this consumer survey was to evaluate health conditions prior to and after consuming of raw milk (RM). An on-line survey was distributed in Spring 2018 among existing consumers of raw milk. One-Item health score, 1-item immunity score, immune status (ISQ), mood, bowel and skin conditions were rated retrospectively based on validated questionnaires. Data from 327 participants (age 54 years) were included, of which 156 (48%) were allocated to the poor health group after they reported being immune depressed or suffering from a chronic disease. Others were allocated to the normal health group. Milk consumption pattern before and after changing of the milk diet were recorded. All health outcomes were evaluated according a linear mixed model in SPSS. Health, perceived immunity, bowel and mood scores increased post RM consumption with around 35% in the poor health group (P < 0.001), and around 9% in the normal health group (P < 0.001). Bowel and mood scores were overall lower in women than in men. Outcomes were independent of the origin of raw farm milk. This consumer survey suggests that positive health and mood changes are associated with the consumption of raw milk. Effects were strongest in people with a self-reported poor health status as well as in women.

ACS Style

Ton Baars; Anna C. Berge; Johan Garssen; Joris C. Verster. Effect of raw milk consumption on perceived health, mood and immune functioning among US adults with a poor and normal health: A retrospective questionnaire based study. Complementary Therapies in Medicine 2019, 47, 102196 .

AMA Style

Ton Baars, Anna C. Berge, Johan Garssen, Joris C. Verster. Effect of raw milk consumption on perceived health, mood and immune functioning among US adults with a poor and normal health: A retrospective questionnaire based study. Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 2019; 47 ():102196.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ton Baars; Anna C. Berge; Johan Garssen; Joris C. Verster. 2019. "Effect of raw milk consumption on perceived health, mood and immune functioning among US adults with a poor and normal health: A retrospective questionnaire based study." Complementary Therapies in Medicine 47, no. : 102196.

Journal article
Published: 22 March 2019 in Animals
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Biodynamic dairy production is based on a land-related animal production without the additional input of N-fertilizers. The concentrate level per cow is low. This affects the yield level of animals and product quality outcomes. We examined the milk fatty acid (FA) composition of European biodynamic farms in relation to the ecological region of production and the farm's climate conditions. Climate data were derived from existing maps describing ecological vegetation zones within Europe. Additionally, biodynamic shop milk was compared to conventional shop milk, based on a regional comparison. The largest differences in the FA composition were between biodynamic summer and winter milk. We found increased proportions of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), alpha-linolenic acid (ALA-n3), monounsaturated FA (MUFA), and polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) in the summer milk. A principal component analysis expressed the structure that was present in the biodynamic farm milk samples, based on clusters of a single FA within four components. The components could be correlated with the season of production, the amount of precipitation, the elevation of the farm above sea level, and the length of the grazing season. Biodynamic shop milk in the summer had a lower n6/n3 PUFA ratio compared to the conventional shop milk in all regions of production. Mean values were 1.37 and 1.89, respectively. The differentiation of biodynamic milk FA composition is consistent with the existing knowledge about the effects of fresh grass, fodder, and ratio composition on the milk's FA composition. Based on the n6/n3 PUFA ratio, the average biodynamic dairy cow had a high intake (>82%) of fresh grass and conserved roughage (hay and grass silage), especially in the summer.

ACS Style

Ton Baars; Jenifer Wohlers; Carsten Rohrer; Stefan Lorkowski; Gerhard Jahreis. Patterns of Biodynamic Milk Fatty Acid Composition Explained by A Climate-Geographical Approach. Animals 2019, 9, 111 .

AMA Style

Ton Baars, Jenifer Wohlers, Carsten Rohrer, Stefan Lorkowski, Gerhard Jahreis. Patterns of Biodynamic Milk Fatty Acid Composition Explained by A Climate-Geographical Approach. Animals. 2019; 9 (3):111.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ton Baars; Jenifer Wohlers; Carsten Rohrer; Stefan Lorkowski; Gerhard Jahreis. 2019. "Patterns of Biodynamic Milk Fatty Acid Composition Explained by A Climate-Geographical Approach." Animals 9, no. 3: 111.