Early complementary feeding and risk of food sensitization in a birth cohort.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Exposure to solid food or cow's milk (complementary food) before age 4 months may confer immune protection (tolerance) or detriment (allergy).

Objective

We explored the relationship between introduction of complementary food <4 months and IgE to egg, milk, and peanut allergen at 2 years in the Wayne County Health, Environment, Allergy and Asthma Longitudinal Study birth cohort of Detroit, Mich.

Methods

At infant ages 1, 6, and 12 months, mothers were interviewed about feeding practices. Blood samples were collected at age 2 to 3 years to assess sensitization (IgE ≥ 0.35 IU/mL) to egg, milk, or peanut.

Results

For the 594 maternal-infant pairs analyzed, maternal mean age was 29.7 years, and 60.6% self-reported as African American or black. Infant expo

SUBMITTER: Joseph CL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3632345 | biostudies-literature | 2011 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature