[Investigation on the difference of intolerance to food between southern and northern middle-aged Chinese and its association with eating habits].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to investigate the difference of intolerance to food between southern and northern middle-aged Chinese, and furthermore analyze its association with eating habits in both study population.


METHODS
ELISA was applied to determine the serum concentrations of specific IgG of 14 food anaphylactogen in 1568 healthy subjects from totally 9 districts in both southern and northern China. Life style questionnaire was also applied to investigate the daily intake of six categorizes of food associated with food intolerance.


RESULTS
45.8% of all subjects were found to be intolerant to certain food. 62.3% of subjects from southern China and 40.4% of subjects from northern China were found to be intolerant to certain food, the difference between southern and northern Chinese was statistically significant. Top three foods intolerant by southern Chinese were crab, egg, and cold fish, while top three food intolerant by northern Chinese were egg, crab, and milk. The differences of intolerance to crab, cold fish, soy bean, rice, and tomato between southern and northern Chinese were statistically significant. Investigation on eating habits revealed that cereals and fish were the major food consumed by subjects in our study. There was no certain association between food intolerance and eating habits.


CONCLUSIONS
Considering that there are differences between southern and northern Chinese, southern and northern Chinese should pay attention to their daily food in order to avoid food allergy.
Department 3 of International Medical Center, Chine PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China.
Hai-Yan
HY
Shi
Jian-Rong
JR
Wang
Jian
J
Cao
Qing-Yun
QY
Wang
Cui-Ping
CP
Liu
D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires