title: A Traditional Diet Is Associated with a Reduced Risk of Eczema and Wheeze in Colombian Children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diet might influence the risk of allergic diseases. Evidence from developing countries with high prevalence of childhood asthma is scant.
  
  
  METHODS
  Information on wheeze, rhinitis, and eczema was collected from 3209 children aged 6-7 years in 2005, who were taking part in the International Study on Asthma and Allergy in Children (ISAAC) in Colombia. Intake frequency of twelve food groups was assessed. Associations between each food group and current wheeze, rhino-conjunctivitis, and eczema were investigated with multiple logistic regressions, adjusting for potential confounders. Simes' procedure was used to test for multiple comparisons.
  
  
  RESULTS
  14.9% of children reported wheeze in the last 12 months, 16% rhino-conjunctivitis, and 22% eczema. Eczema was negatively associated with consumption of fresh fruits and pulses three or more times per week (adjusted Odds ratio (aOR): 0.64; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.49 to 0.83; p value = 0.004; and aOR: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.47 to 0.80; p value < 0.001, respectively). Current wheeze was negatively associated with intake of potatoes (aOR: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.31 to 0.62, p value = 0.005), whilst this outcome was positively associated with consumption of fast food (aOR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.32 to 2.35, p value = 0.001). These associations remained statistically significant after controlling for multiple comparisons.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A traditional diet might have a protective effect against eczema and wheeze in Colombian children, whilst intake of fast foods increases this risk.
authors.affiliation: Fundación Hospital Universitario Metropolitano de Barranquilla, Barranquilla KRA 42F No. 75B-18, Colombia. alerlab@yahoo.es.
authors.forename: Alfonso M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Cepeda
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari 09042, Italy. delgiac@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Stefano R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Del Giacco
authors.affiliation: Fundación Hospital Universitario Metropolitano de Barranquilla, Barranquilla KRA 42F No. 75B-18, Colombia. saravivar@yahoo.es.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Villalba
authors.affiliation: Fundación Hospital Universitario Metropolitano de Barranquilla, Barranquilla KRA 42F No. 75B-18, Colombia. elmtapias@yahoo.es.
authors.forename: Elmy
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tapias
authors.affiliation: Fundación Hospital Universitario Metropolitano de Barranquilla, Barranquilla KRA 42F No. 75B-18, Colombia. rodolfojaller@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Rodolfo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jaller
authors.affiliation: Fundación Hospital Universitario Metropolitano de Barranquilla, Barranquilla KRA 42F No. 75B-18, Colombia. asegurar25@yahoo.es.
authors.forename: Ana María
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Segura
authors.affiliation: Fundación Hospital Universitario Metropolitano de Barranquilla, Barranquilla KRA 42F No. 75B-18, Colombia. gloreyesc@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Reyes
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Epidemiology and Public Health Group, National Heart & Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London SW3 6LR, UK. j.potts@imperial.ac.uk.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Potts
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Epidemiology and Public Health Group, National Heart & Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London SW3 6LR, UK. v.garcialarsen@imperial.ac.uk.|Royal Brompton Hospital and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, London SW3 6NP, UK. v.garcialarsen@imperial.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Garcia-Larsen
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D004034:Diet Surveys; D057140:Fast Foods / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000209:etiology*; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D011198:Solanum tuberosum
keywords: Colombia; ISAAC; asthma; diet; eczema; fast food; fruits; pulses