Association of obesity with IgE levels and allergy symptoms in children and adolescents: results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2006.
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of both obesity and allergic disease has increased among children over the last several decades. Previous literature on the relationship between obesity and allergic disease has been inconsistent. It is not known whether systemic inflammation could be a factor in this relationship.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to examine the association of obesity with total and allergen-specific IgE levels and allergy symptoms in US children and adolescents and to assess the role of C-reactive protein.


METHODS
National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 2005-2006 included measurement of total and allergen-specific IgE levels and allergy questions. Overweight was defined as the 85th or greater to less than the 95th percentile of body mass index for age, and obesity was defined as the 95th percentile or greater. Linear and logistic regression models were used to examine the association of weight categories with total IgE levels, atopy, allergen-specific IgE levels, and allergy symptoms among youth aged 2 to 19 years.


RESULTS
Geometric mean total IgE levels were higher among obese (geometric mean ratio, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.10-1.57) and overweight (ratio, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.02-1.54) children than among normal-weight children. The odds ratio (OR) for atopy (any positive specific IgE measurement) was increased in the obese children compared with that seen in those of normal weight; this association was driven largely by allergic sensitization to foods (OR for atopy, 1.26 [95% CI, 1.03-1.55]; OR for food sensitization, 1.59 [95% CI, 1.28-1.98]). C-reactive protein levels were associated with total IgE levels, atopy, and food sensitization.


CONCLUSIONS
Obesity might be a contributor to the increased prevalence of allergic disease in children, particularly food allergy. Systemic inflammation might play a role in the development of allergic disease.
Visness
Cynthia M
CM
Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. cindy_visness@rhoworld.com
London
Stephanie J
SJ
Daniels
Julie L
JL
Kaufman
Jay S
JS
Yeatts
Karin B
KB
Siega-Riz
Anna-Maria
AM
Liu
Andrew H
AH
Calatroni
Agustin
A
Zeldin
Darryl C
DC
D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009765:Obesity / Q000276:immunology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D002097:C-Reactive Protein