Prevention of food allergy - Early dietary interventions.
The prevalence of food allergy has increased over the last 30 years and remains a disease, which significantly impacts on the quality of life of children and their families. Several hypotheses have been formulated to explain the increasing prevalence; this review will focus on the hypothesis that dietary factors may influence the development of food allergy. Historically, the prevention of food allergy has focused on allergen avoidance. However, recent findings from interventional studies have prompted a shift in the mind set from avoidance to early introduction of potentially allergenic foods. This review aims to facilitate a better understanding of contemporary research studies that make use of early introduction of common allergenic foods into infant diets as a preventative strategy against the development of food allergy.
Department of Paediatric Allergy, King's College London and Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
George
G
Du Toit
Ru-Xin
RX
Foong
Department of Paediatric Allergy, King's College London and Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK. Electronic address: gideon.lack@kcl.ac.uk.
Gideon
G
Lack
D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D001942:Breast Feeding; D004032:Diet; D005502:Food / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000145:classification; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D061148:Hygiene Hypothesis; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D007225:Infant Food; D013997:Time Factors; D014807:Vitamin D
D000485:Allergens; D014807:Vitamin D; D007073:Immunoglobulin E
Allergy prevention; Dietary intervention; Early introduction; Food allergy; Paediatrics