title: The Immunomodulating Effect of a Diet Consisting of Green Vegetables, Beef, Whole Milk and Full-Fat Butter for Children with Non-Specific Elevated IgE.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Non-specific elevated IgE and allergies are common in children, and their prevalence is increasing. Dietary changes could be an explanation for this increase. Zinc, iron, vitamins A, C and E, and polyunsaturated fatty acids all play possible roles in the etiology and possible treatment of allergies due to their numerous immunomodulating properties.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the immunomodulating effect of recommending a nutrient-rich diet consisting of green vegetables, beef, whole milk and full-fat butter.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a case-controlled, non-randomized, retrospective study. Children between the ages of 1 and 18 years with non-specific elevated IgE were included. Baseline and follow-up measurements of serum total IgE and clinical outcomes were retrospectively collected and compared for 49 children who received the dietary advice (to eat green vegetables, beef, whole milk and full-fat butter) and 56 children who did not.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The initial analysis showed a significantly greater decrease in IgE in the intervention group compared to the control group; a 9.2 kU/l versus a 0.1 kU/l decrease, respectively (P = 0.02). When supplement (vitamin D) use was taken into account, however, no significant difference was produced by the dietary effect alone (unstandardized coefficient = 71.3 kU/l, P = 0.16). 53.2 % of participants in the intervention group reported considerable improvement in symptoms versus 28.6 % in the control group (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, the effects of nutrients and vitamins on the decrease in IgE are promising. The separate contributions of dietary advice and/or supplements need to be investigated in the future.
authors.affiliation: 1 Pediatrics, Hospital Group Twente, Hengelo, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ellen Jose
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: van der Gaag
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Forbes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D002079:Butter; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002417:Cattle; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000276:immunology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D056747:Immunomodulation; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat; D008892:Milk; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014675:Vegetables; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D002079:Butter
keywords: IgE; allergy; dietary advice; immunomodulation; pediatrics