Early-life supplementation of vitamins A and D, in water-soluble form or in peanut oil, and allergic diseases during childhood.
BACKGROUND
Early vitamin supplementation is given routinely to infants in many countries, but it is unclear whether this affects the risk of allergic diseases.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to study the association between early-life supplementation of vitamins A and D in water-soluble form or in peanut oil and allergic diseases up to 4 years of age.


METHODS
A prospective birth cohort of 4089 newborn infants was followed for 4 years using parental questionnaires repeatedly to collect information on exposure and health. At 4 years, the response rate was 90%, and allergen-specific IgE levels to food and airborne allergens were measured in 2614 of the participating children.


RESULTS
Vitamins A and D were given to 98% of the children in infancy, and vitamins based in peanut oil dominated (90%). Children supplemented with vitamins A and D in water-soluble form during the first year of life had an almost 2-fold increased risk of asthma (adjusted odds ratio [OD], 2.18; 95% CI, 1.45-3.28), food hypersensitivity (adjusted OR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.33-2.65), and sensitization to common food and airborne allergens (adjusted OR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.34-2.64) at age 4 years compared with those receiving vitamins in peanut oil. No increased risk of IgE antibodies to peanut was seen in children receiving vitamins in peanut oil.


CONCLUSIONS
Supplementation of vitamins A and D in water-soluble form seems to increase the risk of allergic disease up to the age of 4 years compared with supplementation with the same vitamins given in peanut oil.


CONCLUSIONS
Vitamins A and D in oil does not seem to increase the risk of allergic disease during childhood.
Kull
Inger
I
Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden. inger.kull@sll.se
Bergström
Anna
A
Melén
Erik
E
Lilja
Gunnar
G
van Hage
Marianne
M
Pershagen
Göran
G
Wickman
Magnus
M
D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D010367:Arachis / Q000276:immunology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D000074241:Peanut Oil; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014867:Water / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000485:Allergens; D000074241:Peanut Oil; D010938:Plant Oils; D014867:Water; D014801:Vitamin A; D014807:Vitamin D; D007073:Immunoglobulin E