Milk May Exacerbate Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Symptoms, Science Daily, 1 March 2022

Source: University of Bonn
Summary: Multiple sclerosis sufferers often complain of more severe disease symptoms after consuming dairy products. Researchers have now found a possible cause for this. According to the study*, a protein in cow’s milk can trigger inflammation that targets the ‘insulating layer’ around nerve cells. The study was able to demonstrate this link in mice, but also found evidence of a similar mechanism in humans. The researchers therefore recommend that certain groups of sufferers avoid dairy products.

Specifically:

When they administered the cow’s milk constituent casein together with an effect enhancer to the animals, the mice went on to develop neurological disorders. Electron microscopy showed damage to the insulating layer around the nerve fibers, the myelin.
…
Certain white blood cells, the B cells, are responsible for antibody production. The study found that the B cells in the blood of people with MS respond particularly strongly to casein. Presumably, the affected individuals developed an allergy to casein at some point as a result of consuming milk. Now, as soon as they consume fresh dairy products, the immune system produces masses of casein antibodies.
…
It is possible that cow’s milk also increases the risk of developing MS in healthy individuals. Because casein can also trigger allergies in them — which is probably not even that rare. Once such an immune response exists, cross-reactivity with myelin can in theory occur.
…
“Studies indicate that MS rates are elevated in populations where a lot of cow’s milk is consumed.”

* Antibody Cross-Reactivity Between Casein And Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein Results In Central Nervous System Demyelination, PNAS, 2 March 2022

Why do people continue to eat cow’s milk? In light of the awful effects?

In 2014, Dr. Justine Butler published the well-researched White Lies:

An increasing amount of scientific evidence now shows that cow’s milk is not the wonder food the dairy industry would have us believe. … The aim of this report is to redress the balance by presenting and reviewing the research on the health effects of cow’s milk and dairy products.
…
This report combines the findings of over 400 scientific papers from reputable peer-reviewed journals such as the British Medical Journal and the Lancet. The research is clear – the consumption of cow’s milk and dairy products is linked to the development of teenage acne, allergies, arthritis, some cancers, colic, constipation, coronary heart disease, Crohn’s disease, diabetes, dementia, ear infection, food poisoning, gallstones, kidney disease, migraine, autoimmune conditions, including multiple sclerosis, overweight, obesity and osteoporosis.