|
1
|
Vassilopoulou E, Rallis D, Milani GP, Agostoni C, Feketea G, Lithoxopoulou M, Stefanaki E, Ladomenou F, Douladiris N, Cronin C, Popescu CA, Pop RM, Bocsan IC, Tsabouri S. Nurturing Infants to Prevent Atopic Dermatitis and Food Allergies: A Longitudinal Study. Nutrients 2023; 16:21. [PMID: 38201851 PMCID: PMC10780847 DOI: 10.3390/nu16010021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Atopic dermatitis (AD) at a young age often precedes the development of food allergies. Although AD affects millions of infants worldwide, prenatal and postnatal risk factors, and their association with the development of food allergies later on, are not fully elucidated. This study seeks to investigate AD epidemiology in infancy and its risk factors, examining early-life factors (both prenatal and postnatal) that could contribute to the later development of food allergies. METHODS Between January 2019 and December 2019, 501 infants were included in this prospective cohort study. Longitudinal data collection was performed through maternal interviews, the first one conducted within three days after the delivery and the second within 24 to 36 months after the delivery, encompassing variables such as demographics, family history of atopy, maternal smoking, antibiotic use during pregnancy, the mode of delivery, breastfeeding history, food practices, and greenness exposure within 3 days from delivery, while they were still in the hospital. RESULTS Maternal smoking during pregnancy (p = 0.001) and an older sibling atopy history (p = 0.03) was significantly linked to AD incidence. Cesarean section delivery (p = 0.04) was associated with a higher risk of food allergies in infants with AD. Having a garden at home correlated with a higher likelihood of AD (p = 0.01), and food elimination without medical guidance (p = 0.02) due to AD correlated with an elevated risk of food allergies. CONCLUSIONS Encouraging timely allergenic food introduction while promoting dietary diversity, rich in plant-based foods, maternal smoking cessation, and professional dietary guidance may help minimize AD and food allergy risk. Future studies should address the role of greenness in the development of AD and food allergies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emilia Vassilopoulou
- Pediatric Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy; (G.P.M.); (C.A.)
| | - Dimitrios Rallis
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ioannina, 45500 Ioannina, Greece; (D.R.); (S.T.)
| | - Gregorio Paolo Milani
- Pediatric Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy; (G.P.M.); (C.A.)
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Carlo Agostoni
- Pediatric Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy; (G.P.M.); (C.A.)
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Gavriela Feketea
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400337 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (G.F.); (R.M.P.); (I.C.B.)
- Pediatric Allergy Outpatient Clinic, Department of Pediatrics, “Karamandaneio” Children’s Hospital of Patra, 26331 Patras, Greece
| | - Maria Lithoxopoulou
- 2nd Department of Neonatology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, “Papageorgiou” General Hospital of Thessaloniki, 56403 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Evangelia Stefanaki
- Pediatric Allergy Outpatient Clinic, Department of Pediatrics, Venizeleion General Hospital of Heraklion, 71409 Heraklion, Greece;
| | - Fani Ladomenou
- Pediatric Infectious Unit, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Ioannina, 45500 Ioannina, Greece;
| | - Nikolaos Douladiris
- Allergy Unit, 2nd Pediatric Clinic, University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece;
| | - Caoimhe Cronin
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University College Cork, T12 K8AF Cork, Ireland;
| | - Codruta Alina Popescu
- Department of Abilities Human Sciences, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 40012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Raluca Maria Pop
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400337 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (G.F.); (R.M.P.); (I.C.B.)
| | - Ioana Corina Bocsan
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400337 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (G.F.); (R.M.P.); (I.C.B.)
| | - Sophia Tsabouri
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ioannina, 45500 Ioannina, Greece; (D.R.); (S.T.)
| |
Collapse
|