title: Timing of complementary feeding and the risk of atopic eczema.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To find out whether there was an association between when complementary feeding was introduced and the appearance of atopic eczema in children with a family history of allergy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study followed 256 mother and child pairs until the child was four-years-old. Repeated skin prick testing was performed and a clinical diagnosis of eczema made by a physician. The mothers kept a continuous diary about the introduction of complementary feeding. To control the possible reverse causation of delaying complementary food introduction due to presumed child allergy, parental suspicions of allergic reactions were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The introduction of cereals and fish after seven-months-of-age was associated with an increased risk of atopic eczema. However, when the parents' suspicions that their child might be exhibiting symptoms of allergic disease were taken into account, this effect was no longer significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found no evidence that the timing of the introduction of complementary feeding increased the risk of atopic eczema in a high-risk cohort, when parental suspicions were taken into account. Therefore, it seems that families with a history of allergy can safely comply with current feeding recommendations, although confirmation in further studies is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Department of Paediatrics, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland; Functional Foods Forum, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Katri
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Niinivirta
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Isolauri
authors.forename: Merja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nermes
authors.forename: Kirsi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Laitinen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001942:Breast Feeding; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000209:etiology*; D002523:Edible Grain / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000235:genetics; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers; D019936:Probiotics; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017747:Seafood / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012882:Skin Tests
keywords: Atopic eczema; Complementary feeding; Family history of allergy; Infants; Reverse causation