title: Diet and allergic diseases among population aged 0 to 18 years: myth or reality?
abstract: Allergic diseases are an important health problem. However, epidemiological studies concerning childhood diet-related allergic diseases are scarce. This review examines published articles dealing with diet, dietary patterns and nutrition in relation with allergic diseases among population aged 0 to 18 years. Studies and trials were identified using MEDLINE/PubMed and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and were limited to those published in English or French from 1992 until 2012. This manuscript also reviews the evidence for maternal diet during pregnancy and diet during early childhood and their association with childhood atopic diseases, taking into account the methodology used to evaluate dietary patterns. The evidence reviewed is derived from large epidemiological studies exploring the effects of different food categories on asthma, atopic dermatitis, and allergic rhinitis in children. Overall, maternal diet during pregnancy and a childhood diet rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids are considered as healthy diets that could be protective for allergic diseases in childhood.
authors.affiliation: Clinical and Epidemiological Research Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, Lebanese University, Beirut 6573-14, Lebanon. daniellesaadeh@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Saadeh
authors.forename: Pascale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Salameh
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Baldi
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Raherison
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004032:Diet; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007223:Infant; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D011247:Pregnancy; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3