title: The introduction of allergenic foods and the development of reported wheezing and eczema in childhood: the Generation R study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether the timing of introduction of the allergenic foods cow's milk, hen's egg, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, and gluten is associated with eczema and wheezing in children 4 years of age or younger.
  
  
  METHODS
  Population-based prospective cohort study from fetal life until young adulthood.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rotterdam, the Netherlands, from April 2002 through January 2006.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 6905 preschool children participating in the Generation R study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Timing of introduction of cow's milk, hen's egg, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, and gluten collected by questionnaires at 6 and 12 months of age.
  
  
  METHODS
  Information on the outcomes eczema and wheezing were obtained by questions from the age-adapted version of the "International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood" core questionnaire and questionnaire data on parentally reported physician diagnosis for eczema.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 6905 children, wheezing was reported in 31% at age 2 years and in 14% at ages 3 and 4 years. Eczema was reported in 38%, 20%, and 18% of children at the ages of 2, 3, and 4 years, respectively. The introduction of cow's milk, hen's egg, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, and gluten before the age of 6 months was not significantly associated with eczema or wheezing at any age after adjustment for potential confounders (P > .10 for all comparisons). The results did not alter after stratification according to the child's history of cow's milk allergy and parental history of atopy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study does not support the recommendation for delayed introduction of allergenic foods after age 6 months for the prevention of eczema and wheezing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. h.a.moll@erasmusmc.nl
authors.forename: Ilse I M
authors.initials: II
authors.lastname: Tromp
authors.forename: Jessica C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kiefte-de Jong
authors.forename: Ankie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lebon
authors.forename: Carry M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Renders
authors.forename: Vincent W V
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Jaddoe
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hofman
authors.forename: Johan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: de Jongste
authors.forename: Henriëtte A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Moll
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004485:Eczema / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors