Elimination diet in food allergy: friend or foe?

Development and Validation of Parental Self-Efficacy Scale for Dietary Management of Children with Food Allergies

BACKGROUND

It is necessary to evaluate the parental ability to achieve nutritional adequacy while avoiding allergens for children with food allergies (FA), yet this area is currently understudies. Our study aimed to develop and validate the Parental Self-Efficacy Scale for Dietary Management of Children with Food Allergies (PSED-FA).

METHODS

PSED-FA was developed through a literature review and semi-structured interviews refined by a panel of five allergists and five dietitians, and validated using responses from caregivers of children with FA. The construction of the tool involved exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis for model fit, and evaluation of internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha. Convergent and divergent validity were assessed using the average variance extracted (AVE), maximum shared variance (MSV), and average shared variance (ASV).

RESULTS

Participants included nine focus interview groups, with 114 individuals in the validation group. Egg whites (55.2%), tree nuts (35.2%), and peanuts (22.8%) were the most common allergens. The EFA identified three factors: preparing allergen-free meals, knowledge of nutrition management, and management of food restrictions. The goodness of fit of our model met all the criteria. The tool showed high internal consistency (overall Cronbach's alpha: 0.902) and met the criteria for both convergent (AVE >0.5) and divergent validity (AVE > MSV and ASV).

CONCLUSION

This study validated a reliable and effective tool for assessing parental self-efficacy in managing the dietary needs of children with FA. This tool can aid health professionals in evaluating parental confidence and identifying areas for improving dietary management in children with FA.

The Interplay Between Gut Microbiota, Adipose Tissue, and Migraine: A Narrative Review

BACKGROUND

Migraine, a prevalent neurovascular disorder, affects millions globally and is associated with significant morbidity. Emerging evidence suggests a crucial role of the gut microbiota and adipose tissue in the modulation of migraine pathophysiology, particularly through mechanisms involving neuroinflammation and metabolic regulation.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A narrative review of the literature from 2000 to 2024 was conducted using the PubMed database. Studies addressing the relationships between microbiota, adipose tissue, and migraine-including dietary interventions and their impact-were analyzed.

RESULTS

The findings highlight a bidirectional gut-brain axis, with gut microbiota influencing neuroinflammation via metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Obesity exacerbates migraine severity through chronic inflammation and the dysregulation of adipocytokines like leptin and adiponectin. Dietary patterns, such as low glycemic index diets and Mediterranean diets, and the use of prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics show potential in migraine management.

CONCLUSIONS

This review underscores the need for integrative approaches targeting the microbiota-gut-brain axis and adipose tissue in migraine therapy. Future studies should explore longitudinal effects and personalized interventions to optimize outcomes.