Cross‐sectional association of dietary patterns with asthma and atopic sensitization in childhood – in a cohort study. Issue 6 (October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Patel, Sumaiya; Custovic, Adnan; Smith, Jaclyn A.; Simpson, Angela; Kerry, Gina; Murray, Clare S.
• Is Part Of: Pediatric allergy and immunology. Volume 25:Issue 6(2014)
• Page Start: 565
• Page End: 571
• Publication Date: 2014-10
• Subjects: Allergy in children -- Periodicals; Immunologic diseases in children -- Periodicals; 617
• DOI: 10.1111/pai.12276
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0905-6157

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="pai12276-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="pai12276-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Many studies have investigated individual nutrients or foods as risk factors for allergic disease, but few have studied dietary patterns. We aimed to use principal component analysis (PCA) to determine dietary patterns in school age children and examine associations between these dietary patterns and wheeze, asthma and sensitization.</p> </sec> <sec id="pai12276-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Participants in a population‐based birth cohort attended review clinics at ages 8 and 11 yr. A validated questionnaire was interviewer‐administered to collect information on parentally reported symptoms and doctor‐diagnosed asthma. Atopic sensitization was ascertained by skin‐prick tests. Current asthma was defined as doctor‐diagnosed asthma <italic>and</italic> wheezing in the previous 12 months. A validated semi‐quantitative food frequency questionnaire was completed at age 8 yr, and PCA was used to determine dietary patterns.</p> </sec> <sec id="pai12276-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Principal component analysis identified three dietary components, which based on their characteristics we termed as <italic>Traditional</italic> (mixed meat, fish, fruit and vegetables), <italic>Western</italic> (predominantly high fat content, processed foods) and <italic>Other</italic> (predominantly grains and nuts) dietary patterns. High adherence to the <italic>Western</italic> diet pattern was significantly associated with doctor‐diagnosed asthma and current asthma at age 8 yr [aOR (95% CI): 2.19 (1.20–4.01), p = 0.01; 2.59 (1.15–5.81), p = 0.02; respectively]. A similar association was found for current asthma at age 11 yr [aOR (95% CI): 2.20 (1.07–4.51), p = 0.03]. There was no evidence of an association between dietary patterns and current wheeze and allergic sensitization at either age 8 or 11 yr.</p> </sec> <sec id="pai12276-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>School age children adhering strongly to a <italic>Western</italic> diet, high in fat and processed foods, had a higher risk of current asthma and doctor‐diagnosed asthma.</p> </sec> </abstract>