title: Early-life supplementation of vitamins A and D, in water-soluble form or in peanut oil, and allergic diseases during childhood.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden. inger.kull@sll.se
authors.forename: Inger
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kull
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bergström
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Melén
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lilja
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Hage
authors.forename: Göran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pershagen
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wickman
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D000074241:Peanut Oil; D010938:Plant Oils; D014867:Water; D014801:Vitamin A; D014807:Vitamin D; D007073:Immunoglobulin E