Helen Rosenlund

Allergic disease and atopic sensitization in children in relation to measles vaccination and measles infection.

OBJECTIVE. Our aim was to investigate the role of measles vaccination and measles infection in the development of allergic disease and atopic sensitization. METHODS. A total of 14 893 children were included from the cross-sectional, multicenter Prevention of Allergy–Risk Factors for Sensitization in Children Related to Farming and Anthroposophic Lifestyle study, conducted in 5 European countries (Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland). The children were between 5 and 13 years of age and represented farm children, Steiner-school children, and 2 reference groups. Children attending Steiner schools often have an anthroposophic (holistic) lifestyle in which some immunizations are avoided or postponed. Parental questionnaires provided information on exposure and lifestyle factors as well as symptoms and diagnoses in the children. A sample of the children was invited for additional tests, and 4049 children provided a blood sample for immunoglobulin E analyses. Only children with complete information on measles vaccination and infection were included in the analyses (84%). RESULTS. In the whole group of children, atopic sensitization was inversely associated with measles infection, and a similar tendency was seen for measles vaccination. To reduce risks of disease-related modification of exposure, children who reported symptoms of wheezing and/or eczema debuting during first year of life were excluded from some analyses. After this exclusion, inverse associations were observed between measles infection and “any allergic symptom” and “any diagnosis of allergy by a physician.” However, no associations were found between measles vaccination and allergic disease. CONCLUSION. Our data suggest that measles infection may protect against allergic disease in children.

Fish consumption in infancy and development of allergic disease up to age 12 y

BACKGROUND Fish intake in infancy has been associated with reduced risk of allergic disease in early childhood, but it is unknown whether this effect remains as children grow older. OBJECTIVE We studied the possible effect of fish consumption in infancy on prevalent and incident allergic disease up to the age of 12 y. DESIGN A total of 3285 children from a prospective Swedish birth cohort (Children, Asthma, Milieu, Stockholm, Epidemiology) were included in the current analyses. At 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 y, parental questionnaires were used to obtain information on lifestyle factors, environmental exposures, and symptoms of allergic disease. The frequency of fish intake in infancy was assessed in the 1-y questionnaire. Serum immunoglobulin (Ig) E concentrations associated with common allergens were obtained at age 8 y. Generalized estimating equations and multivariate logistic regression were used to examine associations between fish consumption in infancy and prevalent and incident allergic disease at ages 1-12 y, including sensitization and IgE-associated disease at age 8 y. RESULTS At 1 y of age, 80% of the children consumed fish regularly (ie, ≥2 times/mo). From 1 to 12 y of age, regular fish consumption in infancy reduced overall risks of prevalent and incident allergic disease [adjusted OR (95% CI) after restriction to children without early symptoms of allergic disease was 0.74 (0.60, 0.90) (P = 0.003) for prevalent rhinitis and 0.78 (0.63, 0.97) (P = 0.028) for prevalent eczema. CONCLUSION Regular fish consumption in infancy may reduce risk of allergic disease up to age 12 y.

Fruit and vegetable consumption in relation to allergy: Disease-related modification of consumption?

BACKGROUND Previous largely cross-sectional studies suggest that fruit and vegetable consumption reduces the risk of allergic disease in children, but results are conflicting. OBJECTIVE To investigate the association between current fruit or vegetable intake and allergic disease in 8-year-old Swedish children, and to evaluate the potential effect of disease-related modification of consumption. METHODS Cross-sectional data were obtained from a Swedish birth cohort study. Information on fruit and vegetable consumption as well as symptoms and diagnoses of allergic diseases was obtained by parental questionnaires at the 8-year follow-up. Allergen-specific IgE levels against food and inhalant allergens were obtained from blood samples collected at age 8 years. In total, 2447 children were included. Data were analyzed with logistic regression. RESULTS An inverse relation was observed between total fruit consumption and rhinitis (odds ratio, highest vs lowest quartile, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.45-0.86; P for trend, .002), whereas no association was observed for total vegetable intake. In analyses of individual foods, intake of apples/pears and carrots was inversely associated with rhinitis, asthma, and atopic sensitization. Fifty percent of the children with rhinitis were sensitized against birch pollen, which may cross-react with apples and carrots. After exclusion of children who reported food-related allergic symptoms, most of the observed inverse associations moved toward the null and became nonsignificant. CONCLUSION We confirm the inverse associations between fruit intake and allergic disease in children observed in earlier studies. However, our data also indicate that disease-related modification of consumption contributed to this association.

Antioxidant intake and allergic disease in children

Antioxidant intake may reduce the risk of allergic disease by protecting against oxidative tissue damage. Major sources of antioxidants in the Western world are fruits, vegetables (vitamin C, β‐carotene, α‐tocopherol), meat and milk (selenium, magnesium, zinc). Children may exclude or eat less of some fruits and vegetables due to cross‐reactivity between pollen and these foods, complicating assessment of causal relationships.

Use of multivitamin supplements in relation to allergic disease in 8-y-old children

BACKGROUND Multivitamins are frequently consumed by children, but it is unclear whether this affects the risk of allergic disease. OBJECTIVE We sought to study the association between multivitamin supplementation and allergic disease in 8-y-old children. DESIGN Data were obtained from a Swedish birth cohort study. Information on lifestyle factors, including use of vitamin supplements, environmental exposures, and symptoms and diagnoses of allergic diseases, was obtained by parental questionnaires. In addition, allergen-specific IgE concentrations of food and airborne allergens were measured in blood samples collected at age 8 y. A total of 2423 children were included in the study. The association between use of vitamin supplements and the selected health outcomes was analyzed with logistic regression. RESULTS Overall, no strong and consistent associations were observed between current multivitamin use and asthma, allergic rhinitis, eczema, or atopic sensitization at age 8 y. However, children who reported that they started taking multivitamins before or at age 4 y had a decreased risk of sensitization to food allergens (odds ratio: 0.61; 95% CI: 0.39, 0.97) and tendencies toward inverse associations with allergic rhinitis. In contrast, there was no consistent association among children who started to use multivitamins at or after age 5 y. CONCLUSION Our results show no association between current use of multivitamins and risk of allergic disease but suggest that supplementation with multivitamins during the first years of life may reduce the risk of allergic disease at school age.

Breastmilk fatty acids in relation to sensitization - the ALADDIN birth cohort.

Breastmilk fatty acids (FAs) have been associated with childhood allergic disease. Children of families with an anthroposophic lifestyle have a low prevalence of sensitization compared to reference groups. This study aimed to investigate whether the lower prevalence of sensitization among these children can be explained by the differences in breastmilk FA composition.

Validation of a questionnaire to assess dietary habits among 5 13-year old school children of farmers and anthroposophic families

Objective. To evaluate dietary habits among 5–13‐year old school children of farmers, anthroposophic families and controls and to evaluate the validity of a food questionnaire as part of a lifestyle questionnaire of the PARSIFAL‐study.Methods. Food questionnaires were completed by the parents of the children. Validity was assessed with 24‐h recalls performed as telephone interviews with a parent accompanied by the child.Results. Dietary habits were assessed among 14 901 children. Farm children consumed most farm milk, dairy products made from farm milk and meat. Children from anthroposophic families consumed most fruits and vegetables, whole grain products and olive oil and least meat and margarine. Among 493 participants included in the validation study, validity of the food items studied was determined to be moderate‐to‐adequate.Conclusions. Dietary habits differ substantially among children of farmers and children from anthroposophic families. Validity of the diet questionnaire should be sufficiently a...