title: Diet and nutritional status of children with food allergies.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to assess the food intakes and nutritional status of children with food allergies following an elimination diet. We conducted a cross sectional study including 96 children (mean age 4.7 ± 2.5 years) with food allergies and 95 paired controls (mean age 4.7 ± 2.7 years) without food allergies. Nutritional status was assessed using measurements of weight and height and Z scores for weight-for-age, height-for-age and weight-for-height. Nutrient intakes assessment was based on a 3-day diet record. Children with food allergies had weight-for-age and height-for-age Z scores lower than controls (0.1 versus 0.6 and 0.2 versus 0.8 respectively). Children with 3 or more food allergies were smaller than those with 2 or less food allergies (p = 0.04). A total of 62 children with food allergies and 52 controls completed usable diet records. Energy, protein and calcium intakes were similar in the two groups. Children with food allergies were smaller for their age than controls even when they received similar nutrient intakes. Nutritional evaluation is essential for the follow up of children with food allergies.
authors.affiliation: Unité de pneumologie et allergologie pédiatriques, département de pédiatrie, hópital Jeanne de Flandre, CHRU de Lille, Lille, France.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Flammarion
authors.forename: Clarisse
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guimber
authors.forename: Lyne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jouannic
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thumerelle
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gottrand
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Deschildre
mesh_terms: D001835:Body Weight; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D015930:Diet Records; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status
chemical_list: D002136:Calcium, Dietary