A retrospective chart review to identify perinatal factors associated with food allergies

Nutrition Journal

Research

Jennifer Poger¹  Kent E Vrana¹  Sharon Shung¹  Tracy Fausnight¹  Ian M Paul¹  Kelly Dowhower Karpa¹  Nurgul Carkaci-Salli¹  J Alexander Leckie¹  David Mauger¹ 

[1] Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, 500 University Drive, 17033, Hershey, PA, USA;

关键词: Antibiotics;    Atopic dermatitis;    Bifidobacteria;    Cesarean section;    Food allergy;    Streptococcus;    Gut flora;    Lactobacillus;    PBMC peripheral blood mononuclear cell;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1475-2891-11-87

 received in 2012-06-08, accepted in 2012-10-16,  发布年份 2012

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundGut flora are important immunomodulators that may be disrupted in individuals with atopic conditions. Probiotic bacteria have been suggested as therapeutic modalities to mitigate or prevent food allergic manifestations. We wished to investigate whether perinatal factors known to disrupt gut flora increase the risk of IgE-mediated food allergies.MethodsBirth records obtained from 192 healthy children and 99 children diagnosed with food allergies were reviewed retrospectively. Data pertaining to delivery method, perinatal antibiotic exposure, neonatal nursery environment, and maternal variables were recorded. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between variables of interest and subsequent food allergy diagnosis.ResultsRetrospective investigation did not find perinatal antibiotics, NICU admission, or cesarean section to be associated with increased risk of food allergy diagnosis. However, associations between food allergy diagnosis and male gender (66 vs. 33; p=0.02) were apparent in this cohort. Additionally, increasing maternal age at delivery was significantly associated with food allergy diagnosis during childhood (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.017 to 1.105; p=0.005).ConclusionsGut flora are potent immunomodulators, but their overall contribution to immune maturation remains to be elucidated. Additional understanding of the interplay between immunologic, genetic, and environmental factors underlying food allergy development need to be clarified before probiotic therapeutic interventions can routinely be recommended for prevention or mitigation of food allergies. Such interventions may be well-suited in male infants and in infants born to older mothers.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Karpa et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2012