Influence of prenatal and early-life exposures on food allergy and eczema in infancy: a birth cohort study

Abstract

Background Few prospective birth cohort studies are available on the effects of prenatal and early-life exposures on food allergy and eczema among Chinese children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of prenatal and early-life exposures on food allergy and eczema during the first year of life in a prospective birth cohort study. Methods This study was based on a prospective, observational birth cohort of 976 mother-child pairs in three Streets in Changsha, China from January to December 2015. Data on prenatal, early-life exposures and allergic outcomes were obtained from questionnaires collected at birth, and 1, 3, 6, 8, and 12 months of age. Multivariate logistic regression models were performed to estimate the effects of prenatal and early-life exposures on food allergy and eczema. Results Common risk factors for food allergy and eczema in infancy were parental history of allergy, while moderate eggs consumption (3–4 times/week) during pregnancy was protective for both of them compared with low consumption (≤ 2 times/week). Factors only associated with food allergy were maternal aquatic products consumption during pregnancy, number of older siblings and age of solid food introduction, whereas factors only associated with eczema were maternal milk or milk products consumption during pregnancy, maternal antibiotic exposure during pregnancy, season of birth and antibiotic exposure through medication during the first year of life. Conclusion Our study suggests that factors associated with food allergy and eczema are multifaceted, which involving hereditary, environmental and nutritional exposures. Furthermore, differential factors influence the development of food allergy and eczema in infants.

Maternal antibiotic exposure during pregnancy and the risk of allergic diseases in childhood: A meta‐analysis

“…Of the included studies, 20 were cohort studies 18,20‐23,25,26,28‐31,34,36‐43 and 6 were case‐control studies 19,24,27,32,33,35 . Twenty‐one studies reported the association between maternal antibiotic use during pregnancy and the risk of developing childhood asthma or wheeze 18‐21,23‐28,30,31,33‐37,39,40,42,43 ; eight articles explored the risk of eczema or atopic dermatitis in childhood 21,22,25,29,31,34,38,41 ; three studies investigated the correlation of antibiotic exposure with the incidence of food allergy in subsequent children 22,32,34 . Concerning the study region, 17 studies were from Europe, 18,19,21,23,25,26,31‐41 4 studies were from North America, 20,28,30,42 and 5 were from Asia 22,24,27,29,43 .…”

“…22,32,34 Concerning the study region, 17 studies were from Europe, 18,19,21,23,25,26,[31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41] 4 studies were from North America, 20,28,30,42 and 5 were from Asia. 22,24,27,29,43 Table 1 summarized the detailed characteristics of the included studies.…”

“…In total, 26 studies were included in the final meta-analysis by the methods of study selection (Figure 1). Of the included studies, 20 were cohort studies 18,[20][21][22][23]25,26,[28][29][30][31]34,[36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43] and 6 were case-control studies. 19,24,27,32,33,35 Twenty-one studies reported the association between maternal antibiotic use during pregnancy and the risk of developing childhood asthma or wheeze [18][19][20][21][23][24][25][26][27][28]30,31,[33][34][35][36][37]39,40,42,43 ; eight articles explored the risk of eczema or atopic dermatitis in childhood …”

“…19,24,27,32,33,35 Twenty-one studies reported the association between maternal antibiotic use during pregnancy and the risk of developing childhood asthma or wheeze [18][19][20][21][23][24][25][26][27][28]30,31,[33][34][35][36][37]39,40,42,43 ; eight articles explored the risk of eczema or atopic dermatitis in childhood 21,22,25,29,31,34,38,41 ; three studies investigated the correlation of antibiotic exposure with the incidence of food allergy in subsequent children. 22,32,34 Concerning the study region, 17 studies were from Europe, 18,19,21,23,25,26,[31][32][33][34][35]…”

“…For instance, Ahmadizar et al 10 found a positive association between early‐life antibiotic exposure and the risk of developing symptoms such as eczema, hay fever, and food allergy later in life through meta‐analyses. Although an increasing number of studies have investigated the association between antibiotic exposure during pregnancy and the risk of development of allergic disease in childhood, 18‐43 the results were still inconsistent. Some studies reported that the correlation of antibiotic exposure during pregnancy and allergic disorders in children was significantly positive, while others did not observe any association.…”