The role of dietary interventions in the prevention of IgE‐mediated food allergy in children

• Published in: Pediatric allergy and immunology Vol. 28; no. 3; pp. 222 - 229
• Main Authors: Du Toit, George, Foong, Ru‐Xin, Lack, Gideon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01-05-2017
• Subjects: Allergens - immunology; Child; cow's milk; epidemiology of allergies; Food; food allergens; Food allergies; Food Hypersensitivity - diet therapy; Food Hypersensitivity - immunology; Food Hypersensitivity - prevention & control; hen's egg; Humans; Immunoglobulin E - immunology; Infant; Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena - immunology; Peanuts; prevention; Time Factors; hen's egg; food allergens; cow's milk; epidemiology of allergies; peanuts; prevention
• ISSN: 0905-6157; 1399-3038
• DOI: 10.1111/pai.12711

Over the last 30 years, the prevalence of food allergy has been on the rise and remains a disease that can have a significant impact on the quality of life of children and their families. There are several hypotheses that have been suggested to account for the increasing prevalence, but this review will focus on the impact that dietary factors have on food allergy development. In the past food allergy, prevalence has largely focused on allergen avoidance; however, there is increasing evidence from interventional studies that have shown that early introduction to potential food allergens may have a beneficial role in allergy prevention. This review aims to look at the evidence in support of early introduction of allergens into infant diets to prevent against the development of food allergy.