Australian food allergy and season of birth study

Tuesday, 15 March 2011 09:29

The Allergen Bureau has previously reported on study findings from other countries linking birth during autumn or winter months with higher food allergy prevalence. Dr Raymond Mullins (Australian National University and University of Canberra) and his colleagues have turned their research focus to the population of the Australian Capital Territory and found significantly higher rates of food allergy in children born in the region during autumn and winter compared to those born during spring and summer.

The authors suggest these findings add weight to the hypothesis that sun exposure and vitamin D status may be one of many factors contributing to childhood food allergy pathogenesis.

Reference: Mullins et al. 2011. Pediatric Allergy Immunology. DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-3038.2011.01151.x.