International survey on growth indices and impacting factors in children with food allergies.

BACKGROUND: Elimination diets required for the management of food allergies increase the risk for poor growth in children. Currently, no worldwide data exist on this topic and limited published data exist on the impact of atopic comorbidity, type of allergy and foods eliminated on growth. We therefore set out to perform a worldwide survey on growth and impacting factors in food allergic children. METHODS: A prospective growth survey was performed of children (aged 0-16 years) on an elimination diet with confirmed immunoglobulin (Ig)E and non-IgE mediated food allergies. Data collected included: weight-for-age, weight-for-height, height-for-age, head circumference, body mass index, type of food allergy and eliminated foods, allergic comorbidities and replacement milk/breast milk. Multivariable regression analysis was used to establish factors that affected growth. RESULTS: Data from 430 patients from twelve allergy centres were analysed: median age at diagnosis and data collection was 8 months and 23 months, respectively. Pooled data indicated that 6% were underweight, 9% were stunted, 5% were undernourished and 8% were overweight. Cow's milk elimination lead to a lower weight-for-height Z-scores than other food eliminations and mixed IgE and non-IgE mediated allergy had lower height-for-age Z-scores than IgE mediated allergy. Children with only non-IgE mediated allergies had lower weight-for-height and body mass index. Atopic comorbidities did not impact on growth. CONCLUSIONS: Stunting is more common in children with food allergies than low weight. Children particularly at risk of poor growth are those with non-IgE and mixed IgE and non-IgE mediated allergies, as well as those with cow's milk allergy.

A patient-specific approach to develop an exclusion diet to manage food allergy in infants and children.

Food allergy is becoming increasingly common in infants and young children. This article set out to explain the different factors that should be taken into account during an individualized allergy consultation: Foods to avoid and degree of avoidance, suitable alternatives, self-management skills, co- and cross-reactive allergens and novel allergens alongside the role of the industry in allergen avoidance, importance of nutritional aspects of the diet and the future directions that nutritional guidance make take. Allergy management advice should be individualized to provide a patient-specific approach. Changes in the management of food allergies have in particular occurred in nut, milk and egg allergies over the past few years. There has also been a progressive increase in our understanding of cross-reactivity between different foods and also food and aero-allergens. A patient-specific approach of allergen avoidance should consider factors relating to industry and the environment such as food and nutrition literacy, threshold levels, cross-contact/contamination and safe eating away from home. Increasing migration and travel has also led to exposure of unfamiliar foods. As understanding improves on individual allergens and threshold levels, food labels and food labelling laws are affected. Allergy specialist dietitians should also keep up to date with the latest information on nutrition, the gut microbiome and the immune system to incorporate nutrition strategies in a dietetic consultation using an evidence-based approach.