Atopy outcomes a result of diet?

Monday, 13 December 2010 11:47

A team of researchers at the Division of Environmental Epidemiology at Utrecht University, The Netherlands, recruited a birth cohort of over 4,000 children who were followed up to 8 years of age. Data from this study have been analysed to determine whether asthma or atopy outcomes were associated with aspects of the diet, and whether any associations were different if certain foods were introduced to the diet at an early or later age.

Dietary intakes of interest were fruit, vegetables, brown/wholemeal bread, fish, milk, butter and margarine. Associations between food intake at early (2-3 years) and later (7-8 years) age, and long-term intake and asthma and atopy at 8 years were calculated by logistic regression.

Fruit consumption at early age was associated with reduced asthma symptoms. No consistent associations between diet and outcomes for other foods were found.

Reference: Willers et al. 2010. The European Respiratory Journal. DOI: 10.1183/​09031936.00106109