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Food allergy and nutrition in early life: implications for later health

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2007

Ranjit Kumar Chandra
Ranjit Kumar Chandra*
Affiliation:
Memorial University of Newfoundland, Janeway Child Health Centre, St John's, Newfoundland A1A 1R8, Canada
*
*Corresponding author: Dr R. K. Chandra, fax +1 709 778 4191, email [email protected]
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Abstract

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Allergic diseases are a common cause of illness in most industrialized countries. Diet during early childhood is an important determinant of the development of allergy, particularly in high-risk infants who have a parental history of atopy. Maternal avoidance of highly-allergenic foods during pregnancy and lactation, prolonged exclusive breast-feeding, the use of a hydrolysed milk formula, and delayed introduction of dairy products, eggs, fish, nuts and soyabean are associated with a lower incidence of allergic symptoms and signs. These beneficial effects are observed for as long as 18 years of age. Similarly, nutrition and physical growth are important factors that influence immunocompetence and morbidity due to infections. Small-for-gestational age low-birth-weight infants show prolonged impairment of cell-mediated immunity, antibody responses and phagocyte function. Recent studies indicate the beneficial effect of moderate amounts of Zn given in the first 6 months of life. Thus, diet and nutrition in early life are crucial for the development of allergic and infectious disease throughout childhood and into adulthood.

Keywords

Food allergyLow-birth-weight infantsImmune responsesInfection
Type
Symposium on ‘Growing up with good nutrition: a focus on the first two decades’
Information
Proceedings of the Nutrition Society , Volume 59 , Issue 2 , May 2000 , pp. 273 - 277
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2000

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