Effects of maternal diet during late pregnancy and lactation on the development of IgE and egg- and milk-specific IgE and IgG antibodies in infants.
The IgE levels and food-allergen-specific IgE- and IgG-antibodies (Ab) to ovalbumin (OA), ovomucoid (OVO) and beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) were determined up to 18 months of age in 163 infants born to women who were atopic. A high (HIGH group) or a low (REDUCED group) intake of hen's egg and cow's milk by the mother during the third trimester gave no significant differences in the concentrations of IgE or in IgE-Ab (OVO, BLG) and IgG-Ab (OA, OVO, BLG). Similarly, a prolongation of the abstention diet to the early lactation period did not influence the immune response. The IgG-Ab levels to all three food allergens decreased significantly (P less than 0.001) in both study groups between birth and 2 months of age, but then increased significantly (P less than 0.001) between 6 and 18 months of age. The presence in serum of IgE-Ab to OVO (greater than or equal to 0.15 PRU/ml) was associated with significantly higher IgG-Ab levels to OVO at 6 months (P less than 0.001) and at 18 months (P less than 0.05). Infants with positive skin-prick tests (SPT) to OA and OVO showed higher IgG-Ab levels at 6 and 18 months of age than did infants with negative SPT reactions to the two egg allergens. This indicates a relation between the IgE- and IgG-Ab response and it also suggests that some individuals are 'high responders' to both types of immunoglobulin isotypes while others are 'low responders'.
Lilja
G
G
Sachs' Children's Hospital, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Dannaeus
A
A
Foucard
T
T
Graff-Lonnevig
V
V
Johansson
S G
SG
Oman
H
H
D000485:Allergens; D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet; D004531:Eggs / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000378:metabolism; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000378:metabolism; D007223:Infant; D007774:Lactation / Q000276:immunology; D007782:Lactoglobulins / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange / Q000276:immunology*; D008892:Milk / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D010059:Ovomucin / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy
D000485:Allergens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007782:Lactoglobulins; D010059:Ovomucin; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D010047:Ovalbumin