The American Academy of Pediatrics 1 recommends that infants under one year of age not receive whole cow's milk. To get the U.S. Recommended Daily Allowance of 15 mg of iron, an infant would have to drink more than 31 quarts of milk per day. Milk can also cause blood loss from the intestinal tract, which, over time, reduces the body's iron stores. Researchers speculate that the blood loss may be a reaction to proteins present in milk. 3 Pasteurization does not eliminate the problem.
Some infants are exquisitely sensitive to cow milk and can lose large quantities of blood.
Although concerns are greatest for children in the first year of life, there are also health concerns related to milk use among older children and some problems associated with cow's milk formulas. Several reports link insulin-dependent diabetes to a specific protein in dairy products. This form of diabetes usually begins in childhood. It is a leading cause of blindness and contributes to heart disease, kidney damage, and amputations due to poor circulation. Studies of various countries show a strong correlation between the use of dairy products and the incidence of diabetes.