Malabsorption Syndromes and Food Intolerance.

Feeding intolerance is ubiquitous in neonatal intensive care units with as many signs and symptoms as possible diagnoses. Optimizing nutrition is paramount in both preterm and term infants. Determining the cause of feeding intolerance and adjusting nutrition interventions is an important part of the daily care of newborns. This review discusses the role of malabsorption and food intolerance as possible causes of nutrition difficulties in the newborn.

Risk factors of enteral feeding intolerance in severe acute pancreatitis patients: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) have gastrointestinal dysfunction, and enteral nutrition intolerance is easy to occur during the implementation of enteral nutrition, which leads to the suspension or termination of enteral nutrition. Enteral nutrition cannot tolerate the influence of many factors. At present, there is a lack of analysis on the influencing factors of enteral nutrition intolerance in patients with SAP. Therefore, this study analyzed the factors of enteral nutrition intolerance in patients with SAP by meta-analysis, to provide a basis for the protection of enteral nutrition in patients with SAP. METHODS: Databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China Biology Medicine Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Science and Technology Journal Database, and Wanfang) were searched using index words to find relevant studies published before March 2021. Meta-analyses of relative risk were performed for the identification of risk factors. RESULTS: We will disseminate the findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis via publications in peer-reviewed journals. CONCLUSION: This study systematically reviewed the existing evidence and determined the incidence and predictors of enteral nutrition intolerance in patients with SAP.

Estudio en vida real de efectividad de una fórmula hipercalórica hiperproteica en el mantenimiento y mejora del estado nutricional en pacientes con indicación de nutrición enteral a largo plazo / Real-life study of the effectiveness of a high calorie and high protein formula in the maintenance and improvement of nutritional state in patients with an indication of long-term enteral nutrition

La selección de la fórmula más adecuada en nutrición enteral domiciliaria a largo plazo es un tema controvertido. Nuestro objetivo fue estudiar una fórmula hipercalórica hiperproteica en pacientes con alimentación exclusivamente con sonda a largo plazo (180 días). MÉTODOS: Estudio multicéntrico observacional prospectivo en vida real con fórmula hipercalórica hiperproteica (2kcal/ml y 20% de proteínas). Se recogieron datos generales, antropométricos, analíticos y de calidad de vida mediante escala analógica visual del European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions al inicio, 60, 120 y 180 días. La tolerancia gastrointestinal se evaluó con una escala analógica visual y escala de heces de Bristol y la valoración del riesgo de desnutrición mediante NRS-2002. RESULTADOS: Un total de 51 pacientes (88,2% varones, edad media de 62,0 años), con patología oncológica en el 72,5%. No hubo diferencias en datos antropométricos, aunque sí se redujo el porcentaje de pacientes con riesgo de desnutrición del 75 al 8,3% (p < 0,0001). No se observaron diferencias en albúmina, prealbúmina, transferrina, linfocitos o hematocrito. La calidad de vida mejoró de 3,84 (1,27) a 5,37 (1,12) en la escala analógica visual (p < 0,0001). Se observó una reducción de la sintomatología gastrointestinal a lo largo del seguimiento. Tanto el número como el porcentaje de deposiciones consideradas normales según la escala de Bristol se mantuvieron estables. CONCLUSIÓN: Nuestro estudio apoya que el empleo de fórmulas hipercalóricas hiperproteicas durante un tratamiento nutricional a 6 meses permite una adecuada evolución nutricional sin riesgo de deshidratación y con una buena tolerancia, incluso mejoría de sintomatología gastrointestinal, y puede contribuir a una mejora en la calidad de vida

The selection of the most appropriate formula in long-term home enteral nutrition is a controversial issue. Our objective was to study a high protein hypercaloric enteral nutrition formula in patients with long-term feeding (180 days). METHODS: Prospective observational multicenter real-life study with high-protein hypercaloric formula (2kcal/ml and 20% protein). General, anthropometric, analytical and quality of life data were collected by visual analog scale of the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions at the beginning, 60, 120 and 180 days. Gastrointestinal tolerance was assessed with a visual analog scale and Bristol Stool Scale and the risk of malnutrition was assessed using NRS-2002. RESULTS: 51 patients (88.2% men, mean age 62.0 years), with oncological diseases in 72.5%. No differences in anthropometric data were observed, although the percentage of patients at risk of malnutrition according to NRS 2002 was reduced from 75% to 8.3% (p < 0.0001). No differences were observed in albumin, prealbumin, transferrin, lymphocytes or hematocrit. The quality of life improved from 3.84 (1.27) to 5.37 (1.12) on the visual analog scale (p < 0.0001). A reduction in gastrointestinal symptoms was observed throughout the period of enteral nutrition. Both the number and percentage of stools considered normal according to the Bristol scale remained stable. CONCLUSION: Our study supports that the use of high-protein hypercaloric formulas during a 6-month nutritional treatment allows an adequate nutritional evolution without risk of dehydration and with a good tolerance, even improvement of gastrointestinal symptoms, and can contribute to an improvement in the quality of lifetime

Importance of food allergy and food intolerance in allergic multimorbidity.

INTRODUCTION: Allergy affects approximately one-third of the world's population, and the rates are growing. In Europe, it has been noticed that the risk of asthma and allergy is lower in the rural as opposed to urban population. There is a tendency for several allergic diseases to be present in the same person at the same time. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to verify the co-occurrence of allergic multimorbidity and food allergy and intolerance in a group of children. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The multicentre cross-sectional study enrolled 1,008 children and adolescence aged 6-18 years (51.2% boys, 48.8% girls). The study comprised a questionnaire (respondents' declarations) and an outpatient examination (diagnostic examination followed by a medical diagnosis). The study was conducted as part of the 2016-2020 National Health Programme. RESULTS: In the study group, allergic rhinitis (AR) was present in 46.4%, bronchial asthma (BA) in 11.2% and atopic dermatitis (AD) in 6%. Allergic multimorbidity (simultaneous presence of 2 or more of the allergic diseases AR, BA and AD) was diagnosed in 9.7%. A single allergic disease (of the 3) was diagnosed in 43.4%. A diagnosis of food allergy and food intolerance was reported respectively at 29.6% and 14.3% participants with doctor-diagnosed allergic multimorbidity. Among those without any of the 3 allergic diseases, the percentage were 14.4% and 9.1%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Food allergy or food intolerance was more common in subjects with allergic multimorbidity than in subjects diagnosed with one allergic disease or those free of allergic diseases.

Carbohydrate supplementation of human milk to promote growth in preterm infants.

BACKGROUND: Preterm infants are born with low glycogen stores and require higher glucose intake to match fetal accretion rates. In spite of the myriad benefits of breast milk for preterm infants, it may not adequately meet the needs of these rapidly growing infants. Supplementing human milk with carbohydrates may help. However, there is a paucity of data on assessment of benefits or harms of carbohydrate supplementation of human milk to promote growth in preterm infants. This is a 2020 update of a Cochrane Review first published in 1999. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether human milk supplemented with carbohydrate compared with unsupplemented human milk fed to preterm infants improves growth, body composition, and cardio-metabolic and neurodevelopmental outcomes without significant adverse effects. SEARCH METHODS: We used the standard search strategy of Cochrane Neonatal to search Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL 2019, Issue 8) in the Cochrane Library and MEDLINE via PubMed on 22 August 2019. We also searched clinical trials databases and the reference lists of retrieved articles for randomised controlled trials and quasi-randomised trials. SELECTION CRITERIA: Published and unpublished controlled trials were eligible if they used random or quasi-random methods to allocate preterm infants in hospital fed human milk to supplementation or no supplementation with additional carbohydrate. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently abstracted data and assessed trial quality and the quality of evidence at the outcome level using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) method. We planned to perform meta-analyses using risk ratios (RRs) for dichotomous data and mean differences (MDs) for continuous data, with their respective 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We planned to use a fixed-effect model and to explore potential causes of heterogeneity via sensitivity analyses. We contacted study authors for additional information. MAIN RESULTS: One unblinded, quasi-randomised controlled trial (RCT) assessing effects of carbohydrate supplementation of human milk in the form of a prebiotic in 75 preterm infants was eligible for inclusion in this review. We identified two publications of the same trial, which reported different methods regarding blinding and randomisation. Study authors confirmed that these publications pertain to the same trial, but they have not yet clarified which method is correct. We were unable to reproduce analyses from the data presented. At 30 days of age, the mean weight of preterm infants in the trial was greater in the prebiotic carbohydrate-supplemented group than in the unsupplemented group (MD 160.4 grams, 95% CI 12.4 to 308.4 grams; one RCT, N = 75; very low-quality evidence). We found no evidence of a clear difference in risk of feeding intolerance (RR 0.64, 95% CI 0.36 to 1.15; one RCT, N = 75 infants; very low-quality evidence) or necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) (RR 0.2, 95% CI 0.02 to 1.3; one RCT, N = 75 infants; very low-quality evidence) between the prebiotic-supplemented group and the unsupplemented group. Duration of hospital stay was shorter in the prebiotic group than in the control group at a median (range) of 16 (9 to 45) days (95% CI 15.34 to 24.09) and 25 (11 to 80) days (95% CI 25.52 to 34.39), respectively. No other data were available for assessing effects of carbohydrate supplementation on short- and long-term growth, body mass index, body composition, and neurodevelopmental or cardio-metabolic outcomes. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: We found insufficient evidence on the short- and long-term effects of carbohydrate supplementation of human milk in preterm infants. The only trial included in this review presented very low-quality evidence, and study authors provided uncertain information about study methods and analysis. The evidence may be limited in its applicability because researchers included a small sample of preterm infants from a single centre. However, the outcomes assessed are common to all preterm infants, and this trial demonstrates the feasibility of prebiotic carbohydrate supplementation in upper-middle-income countries. Future trials should assess the safety and efficacy of different types and concentrations of carbohydrate supplementation for preterm infants fed human milk. Although prebiotic carbohydrate supplementation in preterm infants is currently a topic of active research, we do not envisage that further trials of digestible carbohydrates will be conducted, as this is currently done as a component of multi-nutrient human milk fortification. Hence we do not plan to publish any further updates of this review.

Effect of enteral erythropoietin on feeding-related complications in preterm newborns: A pilot randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: To evaluate the effects of enteral administration of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) on feeding-related complications in preterm infants. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This double-blind, randomized controlled pilot study enrolled 120 preterm infants born ≤ 32 weeks' gestation who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit in a tertiary hospital; 60 patients randomly received recombinant human erythropoietin while the other 60 received placebo. Newborns who underwent cardiopulmonary resuscitation, infants with genetic syndromes, infants with inborn errors of metabolism, infants with major congenital or acquired gastrointestinal tract malformations, infants with previous use of parenteral growth factors such as recombinant human erythropoietin and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimuating factor (GM-CSF) and infants previously treated with intravenous immunoglobulin were excluded. Overall, 48 patients withdrew from the study because of intravenous haematopoietic growth factor intake or death before treatment was completed. A total of 72 preterm infants remained in the study: 36 preterm infants in the erythropoietin (EPO) group, and 36 preterm infants in the placebo group. The day that enteral feeding was successfully started, the time to establishing one-half, two-thirds, and full enteral feedings (reaching at least 150 mL/kg/day), the number of episodes of feeding intolerance, the time to regain birth weight and the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) were recorded. RESULTS: Both groups showed no significant difference in the time to achieve one-half, two-thirds, or full enteral feeding, no signs of feeding intolerance, and no cases of NEC were recorded. CONCLUSION: Enteral erythropoietin does not appear to affect feeding intolerance or NEC incidence.

A Population Survey of Dietary Attitudes towards Gluten.

It is unclear how the prevalence of people who believe the gluten-free diet (GFD) to be generally healthy ("Lifestylers") is impacting the overall rates of self-reported gluten sensitivity (GS). We repeated a population survey from 2012 in order to examine how attitudes towards GS have changed over time. Our survey (N = 1004) was administered in Sheffield (UK) in 2015, replicating the 2012 experiment. The questionnaire included a food frequency survey and assessed self-reported GS as well as associated variables (prevalence, current diet, pre-existing conditions, etc.). The overall rates of key variables and chi-squared analysis in comparison to the previous survey were as follows: self-reported GS was 32.8% (previously 12.9%, p < 0.001), pre-existing coeliac disease (CD) was 1.2% (previously 0.8%, p = 0.370), following a GFD was 3.7% (previously 3.7%, p = 0.997). Self-reported GS was positively associated with some pre-existing conditions, including anxiety, depression, chronic fatigue, headaches, and other food allergies/intolerances (including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); chi-squared analyses, all p < 0.001). Over a 3-year period, the fraction of people who self-reported GS increased by over 250%. Despite this, arguably more meaningful indications of underlying physiological GS remained comparable. This research suggests that the public perception of gluten is causing a marked increase in the number of people who erroneously believe they are sensitive to it.

[Duodenal eosinophilia in functional dyspepsia in a Colombian sample: a case-control study]. / Eosinofilia duodenal en pacientes Colombianos con dispepsia funcional: un estudio de casos y controles.

INTRODUCTION: Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a complex symptom. Currently there are multiple therapeutic options that are used for the management of these patients; however, FD therapies are based on symptomatic control and do not address the pathophysiological pathways involved in its development. The duodenum has been proposed as a key site to understand the complex pathophysiology involved in FD. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to determine duodenal eosinophilia in patients with FD and establish the clinical-pathological correlation with the cardinal symptoms of dyspepsia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Case-control study. Patients older than 18 years with dyspepsia according to the Rome IV criteria, and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy normal (FD group).Patients with iron deficiency anemia and chronic diarrhea (control group). Biopsies were taken in the stomach, duodenal bulb and second portion of duodenum. A sample size of 140 patients (70 patients in the FD group and 70 patients in the control group) was calculated. The collected information was described and analyzed by conventional statistical techniques. RESULTS: 243 patients were recruited. 84 patients were included in the FD group and 84 patients in the control group. 135 patients were women (80.3%). The mean age was 53.6 years (SD 14.9). Duodenal eosinophilia was found with significant difference in patients with early satiety (p=0.01). There was no difference in patients with postprandial fullness (p=0.63), epigastric pain or burning (p=0.26), gastroesophageal reflux symptoms (p=0.13), allergy and food intolerance (p=0.42) and smoking (p=0.28). There was no relationship between duodenal mastocytosis and early satiety (p=0.98), postprandial fullness (p=0.78), and epigastric pain or burning (p=0.82). CONCLUSIONS: Duodenal eosinophilia was similar in FD and controls. In subgroup analysis, duodenal eosinophilia occurs in patients with early satiety.

Gastrointestinal symptoms before and after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: a longitudinal assessment.

BACKGROUND: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is an effective treatment for morbid obesity, but many patients have increased gastrointestinal symptoms. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate gastrointestinal symptoms and food intolerance before and after RYGB over time in a large cohort of morbidly obese patients. SETTING: A high-volume bariatric center of excellence. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was performed in patients who underwent RYGB between September 2014 and July 2015, with 2-year follow-up. Consecutive patients screened for bariatric surgery answered the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) and a food intolerance questionnaire before RYGB and 2 years after surgery. The prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms before and after surgery and the association between patient characteristics and postoperative gastrointestinal symptoms were assessed. RESULTS: Follow-up was 86.2% (n = 168) for patients undergoing primary RYGB and 93.3% (n = 28) for revisional RYGB. The total mean GSRS score increased from 1.69 to 2.31 after surgery (P < .001), as did 13 of 16 of the individual scores. Preoperative GSRS score is associated with postoperative symptom severity (B = .343, P < .001). Food intolerance was present in 16.1% of patients before primary RYGB, increasing to 69.6% after surgery (P < .001). Patients who underwent revisional RYGB had a symptom severity and prevalence of food intolerance comparable with that among patients with primary RYGB, even though they had more symptoms before revisional surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Two years after surgery, patients who underwent primary RYGB have increased gastrointestinal symptoms and food intolerance compared with the preoperative state. It is important that clinicians are aware of this and inform patients before surgery.

EMPATHY: A New Tool for Identifying the Most Suitable Thyroxine Formulation in Hypothyroid Patients.

Background: Therapy of hypothyroidism is based on the administration of appropriate doses of levothyroxine (LT4). A failure to achieve the thyrotropin (TSH) target may be due to poor compliance with the LT4 therapy in about 60% of cases or to malabsorption in about 40% of cases. No tools are available for detecting malabsorption disorders before the choice of the most appropriate therapy. The aim of this study was to validate the Evaluation of Malabsorption in PATients with HYpothyroidism (EMPATHY) questionnaire and to demonstrate its usefulness in indicating the most appropriate therapy. Methods: EMPATHY consists of seven questions that allow the evaluation of several intolerances and allergies. Three hundred (100 males) newly diagnosed hypothyroid patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to complete an EMPATHY questionnaire (150 patients; group 1) or to a control group (150 patients; group 2). The choice of thyroxine formulation and dose for each group was made on the basis of the questionnaire answers or based on the history. Thyroid hormones and TSH were evaluated at enrollment and then every two months for six months; the number of the dose adjustments in the six months for each patient was recorded. Results: Of the 150 patients in each group, 21 (14%) in group 1 and 42 (28%) in group 2 (p = 0.005) needed more than two dose adjustments within six months. After six months of replacement therapy, six (4%) patients in group 1 and 17 (11%) in group 2 (p = 0.03) did not have appropriately controlled hypothyroidism (TSH ≥2.5 mIU/L). A significantly higher LT4 final dose was found in group 2 (148 ± 33 µg/day) than in group 1 (136 ± 28 µg/day; p = 0.003). Conclusions: Validation of EMPATHY provides endocrinologists with a useful tool in clinical practice, permitting a better personalization of LT4 replacement therapy, a more rapid attainment of the target TSH levels, and a decreased need for dose adjustments after initiating therapy.

Probiotics for preterm infants - time to end all controversies.

Mortality, necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), late onset sepsis (LOS) and feeding intolerance are significant issues for very preterm (< 32 weeks) and extremely preterm (< 28 weeks) infants. The complications of ≥ Stage II NEC [e.g. Resection of the gangrenous gut, survival with intestinal failure, recurrent infections, prolonged hospital stay, and long-term neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI)] impose a significant health burden. LOS also carries significant burden including long-term NDI due to adverse effects of inflammation on the preterm brain during the critical phase of development. Frequent stopping of feeds due to feeding intolerance is a significant iatrogenic contributor to postnatal growth failure in extremely preterm infants. Over 25 systematic reviews and meta-analyses of RCTs (~12 000 participants) have reported that probiotics significantly reduce the risk of all-cause mortality, NEC ≥ Stage II, LOS and feeding intolerance in preterm infants. Systematic reviews and meta-analysis of non-RCTs have also shown that the benefits after adopting probiotics as a standard prophylaxis for preterm infants are similar to those reported in RCTs. No intervention comes close to probiotics when it comes to significant reduction in death, NEC, LOS and feeding intolerance at a cost of less than a dollar a day irrespective of the setting and baseline incidence of NEC. The common controversies that are preventing the rapid uptake of probiotics for preterm infants are addressed in this paper.

Eosinofilia duodenal en pacientes Colombianos con dispepsia funcional: un estudio de casos y controles / Duodenal eosinophilia in functional dyspepsia in a Colombian sample: a case-control study

Introducción: La dispepsia funcional (DPF) es una entidad compleja cuya fisiopatología no está claramente definida. Existen alteraciones motoras gastroduodenales y recientemente se ha dado importancia a la eosinofilia duodenal. Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio fuedeterminar si existe asociación entre eosinofilia duodenal y DPF. Materiales y métodos: Estudio de casos y controles. Pacientes mayores de 18 años con dispepsia según ROMA IV, a quienes se descartó DP orgánica con endoscopia alta (EVDA). Los controles fueron pacientes con anemia ferropénica y diarrea crónica a quienes de rutina se toman biopsias tanto del estómago como del duodeno. Se calcularon 70 pacientes en cada grupo. La información se recolectó en un formulario específico. Resultados: Hubo 243 pacientes elegibles. Se incluyeron 84 pacientes en grupo. El 80% eran mujeres. Edad promedio 53,6 años. Se encontró eosinofilia duodenal con diferencia significativa en los pacientes con saciedad precoz (p=0,01). No hubo diferencia significativa en los pacientes con llenura posprandial (p=0,63), dolor o ardor epigástrico (p=0,26), síntomas de reflujo gastroesofágico (p=0,13), alergia e intolerancia a alimentos (p=0,42) y tabaquismo (p=0,28). Asimismo, no se encontró relación entre mastocitosis duodenal y saciedad precoz (p=0,98), llenura posprandial (p=0,78) y dolor o ardor epigástrico (p=0,82). Conclusiones: La eosinofilia duodenal fue más frecuente en pacientes con DPF que tenían saciedad precoz.

Introduction: Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a complex symptom. Currently there are multiple therapeutic options that are used for the management of these patients; however, FD therapies are based on symptomatic control and do not address the pathophysiological pathways involved in its development. The duodenum has been proposed as a key site to understand the complex pathophysiology involved in FD. Objective: The aim of the study is to determine duodenal eosinophilia in patients with FD and establish the clinical-pathological correlation with the cardinal symptoms of dyspepsia. Material and methods: Case-control study. Patients older than 18 years with dyspepsia according to the Rome IV criteria, and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy normal (FD group).Patients with iron deficiency anemia and chronic diarrhea (control group). Biopsies were taken in the stomach, duodenal bulb and second portion of duodenum. A sample size of 140 patients (70 patients in the FD group and 70 patients in the control group) was calculated. The collected information was described and analyzed by conventional statistical techniques. Results: 243 patients were recruited. 84 patients were included in the FD group and 84 patients in the control group. 135 patients were women (80.3%). The mean age was 53.6 years (SD 14.9). Duodenal eosinophilia was found with significant difference in patients with early satiety (p=0.01). There was no difference in patients with postprandial fullness (p=0.63), epigastric pain or burning (p=0.26), gastroesophageal reflux symptoms (p=0.13), allergy and food intolerance (p=0.42) and smoking (p=0.28). There was no relationship between duodenal mastocytosis and early satiety (p=0.98), postprandial fullness (p=0.78), and epigastric pain or burning (p=0.82). Conclusions: Duodenal eosinophilia was similar in FD and controls. In subgroup analysis, duodenal eosinophilia occurs in patients with early satiety.

Food Intolerance 1 Year After Banded Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the food intolerance after banded Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), correlating the data of food ingestion. METHODS: This is an observational prospective study, which evaluated the individuals before and 3, 6, and 12 months after banded RYGB. We performed an anthropometric evaluation and an assessment of the habitual food ingestion and applied a food tolerance questionnaire. RESULTS: The study group was comprised of 75 individuals, 89% of them female, with a percentual weight loss of 29.73 ± 6.79%. The observed results were that food intolerance increased over time and 1 year after surgery, only 2.7% reported to ingest any type of food, while the greatest difficulty was related to red meat (80%). Regarding vomits, after surgery, this proportion significantly increased after 3, 6, and 12 months. Preoperatively, the mean protein ingestion was 98 g, which decreased to 50 g after 3 and 6 months and to 51 g after 12 months. As a conclusion, food intolerance significantly increased following banded RYGB, leading to a crescent dissatisfaction regarding food and an increase in the vomits frequency.

Cow milk protein allergy and other common food allergies and intolerances.

The prevalence of food allergy and food intolerance is increasing and it is an important public health problem affecting children. Food allergy results from an immunological reaction to certain food(s) and affects numerous organs in the body. Food intolerances are non-immunological reactions including metabolic, toxic, pharmacological and undefined mechanisms. Cow milk is the most common cause of food allergy and food intolerance, especially in young children. Food intolerance can present with similar symptoms to those of food allergy. Health-care personnel, patients and their caregivers often confuse food intolerance with food allergy. This review focuses on the clinical manifestations, diagnostic evaluation, treatment and prevention of food allergy and food intolerance.

Favorable prognosis of wheat allergy in adults

Background: Wheat ingestion can lead to disorders such as IgE-mediated food allergy and wheat-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis (WDEIA), both of which are associated with impaired quality of life and significant morbidity. Allergy to wheat is relatively benign in children, although its natural history in adults is still unknown. Objective: We used placebo-controlled challenge to evaluate the natural history of wheat hypersensitivity in atopic patients with adult-onset wheat allergy. Methods: We enrolled 13 patients from an initial cohort of adult patients with IgE-mediated wheat allergy (mean age, 40 years). After diagnosis, the patients observed a wheat-free diet and were followed as outpatients for 5 years to evaluate wheat exposure. Wheat-IgE titers were determined at the end of follow-up, and a second wheat-challenge was performed. Results: Ten out of 13 patients took part in the study. The mean period of wheat avoidance was 4.2 years. Three patients had spontaneously reintroduced wheat before the second evaluation, after a mean (IQR) of 28 (18-36) months, with only mild gastrointestinal discomfort at reintroduction. At the end of follow-up, 9 of the 10 patients were wheat-tolerant. Two patients had a history of WDEIA. We observed a reduction in IgE levels, with median (IQR) IgE falling from 2.77 (0.35-100) kU/L at diagnosis to 0.88 (0.1-20.8) kU/L. The association between IgE and a negative challenge result was not statistically significant.Conclusion: IgE-mediated wheat allergy in adults is benign and represents a temporary break in gastrointestinal tolerance. Future studies may improve our knowledge of wheat allergens, routes of and factors leading to sensitization, and prognostic biomarkers

Introducción: La ingesta de trigo puede originar varias patologías como alergia alimentaria mediada por IgE y la anafilaxia inducida por ejercicio previa ingesta de trigo. Todas ellas originan un descenso en la calidad de vida y una importante morbilidad. La alergia a trigo es relativamente benigna en niños, sin embargo, su historia natural en adultos es aún desconocida. Objetivo: Evaluamos la historia natural de la hipersensibilidad al trigo de inicio en la edad adulta en pacientes atópicos confirmado mediante pruebas de exposición oral. Métodos: Se incluyeron 13 pacientes de una cohorte de pacientes adultos (edad media 40 años) con alergia a trigo mediada por IgE. Tras el diagnóstico los pacientes siguieron una dieta exenta de trigo y fueron seguidos durante 5 años para valorar su tolerancia tras la exposición al trigo. Al final del seguimiento se determinaron los valores de IgE específica a trigo y se realizó una segunda provocación oral con trigo. Resultados: 10 de los 13 pacientes tomaron parte en el estudio. La duración media del periodo de no ingesta de trigo fue de 4,2 años. 3 pacientes reintrodujeron por iniciativa propia la ingesta de trigo antes de la segunda evaluación, después de un periodo medio de 28 meses (RIQ 18-36 meses), presentando solo leves síntomas gastrointestinales. Al final del seguimiento, 9/10 pacientes toleraron la ingesta de trigo. 2 pacientes tenían historia de anafilaxia inducida por ejercicio. Se observó una disminución de los valores de IgE específica desde una mediana de 2,77 kU/l (RIQ 0,35-100 kU/L) en el momento del diagnóstico hasta 0,88 kU/l (RIQ 0,1-20,8 Ku/L) al final del seguimiento. No se observó correlación entre los valores de IgE específica y los resultados de la tolerancia final. Conclusión: La alergia a trigo mediada por IgE en adultos es una patología benigna y representa una interrupción temporal de la tolerancia gastrointestinal. Futuros estudios podrían mejorar nuestro conocimiento sobre los alérgenos del trigo, rutas y factores que llevan a la sensibilización, y biomarcadores de pronóstico

Una visión global de las reacciones adversas a alimentos: alergia e intolerancia alimentaria / A global vision of adverse reactions to foods: food allergy and food intolerance

En estos últimos años se ha evidenciado un aumento de las reacciones adversas a alimentos, probablemente asociadas a los cambios en el estilo de vida producidos en las últimas décadas. Una reacción adversa a alimentos es cualquier respuesta clínicamente anormal que puede atribuirse a la ingestión, contacto o inhalación de un alimento, de sus derivados o de uno de sus aditivos. Pueden clasificarse en alergia o intolerancia alimentaria. Las alergias alimentarias suelen tener un componente inmunológico generalmente asociado a inmunoglobulina E (IgE). Las reacciones adversas a alimentos tienen una gran repercusión tanto clínica como social y perjudican la calidad de vida de los pacientes y, en algunos casos, resultan fatales, de ahí que se implique directamente a los servicios de restauración colectiva y de manufacturación de alimentos para su correcto manejo. Los alimentos más alérgenos cambian según el grupo etario. La alergia al huevo es la más frecuente en menores de 5 años y a las frutas frescas, en los mayores de 5 años. Las manifestaciones clínicas más frecuentes son de tipo cutáneo-mucosas. Las intolerancias alimentarias pueden deberse a un mecanismo farmacológico, metabólico, mixto o idiosincrático, pero no inmunológico. Las manifestaciones clínicas suelen ser dosis dependientes, mientras que las alérgicas son dosis independientes. La intolerancia alimentaria más frecuente y conocida es la intolerancia a la lactosa, que es de tipo metabólica. El tratamiento principal para ambos tipos de reacciones adversas a alimentos consiste en evitar el alimento que causa de la reacción

Over the last years, there has been an increase in adverse food reactions, probably associated with life style changes in the past decades. An adverse food reaction is any clinically abnormal response that can be attributed to ingestion, contact or inhalation of a food, its derivatives or an additive contained in it. They can be classified as food allergy or intolerance. Food allergies are usually immune-mediated, associated with IgE. Adverse reactions to food have a large clinical and social repercussion, which can be fatal in some cases and impair the quality of life of patients. This implies directly the services of collective catering and food manufacturing, which is why a legislature and regulations were implemented for its correct management. The most allergenic foods change according to the age group; being the egg the most frequent in children under 5 years, and fresh fruits in the older than 5 years. The most frequent clinical manifestations are cutaneous-mucous type. Food intolerances may be due to a pharmacological, metabolic, mixed or idiosyncratic mechanism. Clinical manifestations are usually dose dependent. The most common and known food intolerance is lactose, which is a metabolic type. The main treatment of both types of adverse reaction to foods is avoidance of the causal food of the reaction

[Clinical characteristics and risk factors for feeding intolerance in preterm infants].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical characteristics and risk factors for feeding intolerance (FI) in preterm infants and to provide evidence for early identification, effective prevention and treatment of FI.
 Methods: A total of 116 preterm infants were recruited in the Department of Neonatology, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, from July 2016 to December 2016. Self-designed "the clinical observation table for feeding intolerance of preterm infant" was used to find out the main risk factors of FI in preterm infants.
 Results: 1) There were 62 cases of FI. The incidence of FI in preterm infants was 53.45% (62/116). It was 44.93% (31/69) and 65.96% (31/47) for males and females, respectively, with significant difference between them (P<0.05). The incidence of FI in very low birth weight infants was 48.57% (34/70), and in the extremely low birth weight infant was 88.89% (8/9). FI in preterm infants mainly occurred in the period of being fed within 48-72 h. The symptoms included abdominal distension, gastric retention, vomiting and stomach brown color for clinical manifestations. Among them, abdominal distension was the main clinical manifestation. 2) The logistic multivariate regression analysis showed that birth weight <1 000 g (P<0.05), the use of caffeine citrate (P<0.05) and the formula feeding (P<0.05) were the main risk factors for FI.
 Conclusion: The incidence of FI is very high in preterm infants. Birth weight <1 000 g, the use of caffeine citrate, and formula feeding are main risk factors for FI.

[A global vision of adverse reactions to foods: food allergy and food intolerance]. / Una visión global de las reacciones adversas a alimentos: alergia e intolerancia alimentaria.

Over the last years, there has been an increase in adverse food reactions, probably associated with life style changes in the past decades. An adverse food reaction is any clinically abnormal response that can be attributed to ingestion, contact or inhalation of a food, its derivatives or an additive contained in it. They can be classified as food allergy or intolerance. Food allergies are usually immune-mediated, associated with IgE. Adverse reactions to food have a large clinical and social repercussion, which can be fatal in some cases and impair the quality of life of patients. This implies directly the services of collective catering and food manufacturing, which is why a legislature and regulations were implemented for its correct management. The most allergenic foods change according to the age group; being the egg the most frequent in children under 5 years, and fresh fruits in the older than 5 years. The most frequent clinical manifestations are cutaneous-mucous type. Food intolerances may be due to a pharmacological, metabolic, mixed or idiosyncratic mechanism. Clinical manifestations are usually dose dependent. The most common and known food intolerance is lactose, which is a metabolic type. The main treatment of both types of adverse reaction to foods is avoidance of the causal food of the reaction.

En estos últimos años se ha evidenciado un aumento de las reacciones adversas a alimentos, probablemente asociadas a los cambios en el estilo de vida producidos en las últimas décadas. Una reacción adversa a alimentos es cualquier respuesta clínicamente anormal que puede atribuirse a la ingestión, contacto o inhalación de un alimento, de sus derivados o de uno de sus aditivos.Pueden clasificarse en alergia o intolerancia alimentaria. Las alergias alimentarias suelen tener un componente inmunológico generalmente asociado a inmunoglobulina E (IgE). Las reacciones adversas a alimentos tienen una gran repercusión tanto clínica como social y perjudican la calidad de vida de los pacientes y, en algunos casos, resultan fatales, de ahí que se implique directamente a los servicios de restauración colectiva y de manufacturación de alimentos para su correcto manejo.Los alimentos más alérgenos cambian según el grupo etario. La alergia al huevo es la más frecuente en menores de 5 años y a las frutas frescas, en los mayores de 5 años. Las manifestaciones clínicas más frecuentes son de tipo cutáneo-mucosas. Las intolerancias alimentarias pueden deberse a un mecanismo farmacológico, metabólico, mixto o idiosincrático, pero no inmunológico. Las manifestaciones clínicas suelen ser dosis dependientes, mientras que las alérgicas son dosis independientes.La intolerancia alimentaria más frecuente y conocida es la intolerancia a la lactosa, que es de tipo metabólica. El tratamiento principal para ambos tipos de reacciones adversas a alimentos consiste en evitar el alimento que causa de la reacción.

Nutrition Adequacy Therapeutic Enhancement in the Critically Ill: A Randomized Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of the Motilin Receptor Agonist Camicinal (GSK962040): The NUTRIATE Study.

BACKGROUND: Camicinal is a novel, nonmacrolide, motilin receptor agonist that accelerates gastric emptying in critically ill patients with established feed intolerance. The primary question was whether the preemptive administration of camicinal increased the provision of enteral nutrition (EN) to critically ill patients with risk factors that predisposed to feed intolerance. METHODS: This was an international, multicenter, parallel-group, blinded, randomized controlled trial. Patients at risk for feed intolerance, defined as receiving moderate to high doses of vasopressors or opiates, or admitted because of multiple traumatic injuries or with brain injury, received either enteral camicinal 50 mg or placebo daily for a maximum of 7 days, along with EN administered according to a standardized feeding protocol. The primary outcome was the daily adequacy of enteral feed delivered, as assessed by percentage of goal volume (delivered/prescribed × 100) before development of intolerance. RESULTS: Eighty-four patients participated. The administration of camicinal did not result in a statistically significant clinical difference in the daily average percentage goal volume delivered (camicinal vs placebo: 77% [95% confidence interval: 71, 83] vs 68% (58, 78); mean difference 9% [-5, 23]; P = 0.21). Similarly, there were no differences in the percentage goal calories (76% [65, 88] vs 68% [60, 77]) and protein (76% [66, 86] vs 70% [61, 80]) administered, or the incidence of feed intolerance (15% vs 14%). CONCLUSION: The incidence of feed intolerance was low in both groups. In this cohort the preemptive administration of enteral camicinal did not significantly augment the provision of goal EN.