title: Anthroposophic lifestyle and salivary cortisol are associated with a lower risk of sensitization during childhood.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Infants from anthroposophic families have low cortisol levels and low risk of IgE-sensitization during first 2 years of life. Our aim was to study the impact of an anthroposophic lifestyle and cortisol levels at 6 months on allergy sensitization up to age 5 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 507 families participated from maternal healthcare centers. Parental lifestyle was categorized as anthroposophic, partly anthroposophic, or non-anthroposophic. Blood samples for analyzes of sensitization were obtained from parents at inclusion and from children at 6, 12, 24, and 60 months. Salivary samples were collected at home at 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sensitization increased from 2.9% to 26.0% in the anthroposophic group, from 8.4% to 26.8% in the partly anthroposophic group, and from 19.1% to 44.1% in the non-anthroposophic group. Children from anthroposophic families had lower cortisol levels in the morning, afternoon, and evening. The odds ratio (OR) for anthroposophic lifestyle was always <1 and lowest at 12 months (OR, 0.10; 95% CI, 0.03-0.36). Adjusting for cortisol levels at 6 months increased these ORs at 12 and 24 months. At the same ages, ORs for sensitization were elevated also for cortisol levels at 6 months. Analyzes in children not sensitized at 6 months confirmed the cortisol-related risk of sensitization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children from families with an anthroposophic lifestyle have lower risk than comparisons of developing sensitization up to 5 years. This risk is partially explained by low cortisol levels during infancy. High cortisol levels at 6 months predict sensitization up to 24 months.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Vidarkliniken and Integrative Care Science Centre, Järna, Sweden.
authors.forename: Jackie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Swartz
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lindblad
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arinell
authors.forename: Töres
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Theorell
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alm
mesh_terms: D000887:Anthroposophy; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis*; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D007223:Infant; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010290:Parents; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Allergic sensitization; anthroposophic lifestyle; children; salivary cortisol; stress