ORIGINAL ARTICLE

The introduction of solids in relation to asthma and eczema

A Zutavern¹, E von Mutius¹, J Harris², P Mills², S Moffatt², C White², P Cullinan²

¹ Dr von Haunersches Kinderspital (University Children’s Hospital); Lindwurmstr. 4, 80337 Munich, Germany
² Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Imperial College of Science and Technology (National Heart and Lung Institute), 1b Manresa Road, London SW3 6LR, UK

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr Dr A Zutavern
von Haunersches Kinderspital, Lindwurmstr.4, 80337 Muenchen, Germany; anne.zutavern{at}kk-i.med.uni-muenchen.de

Background: Despite scarce scientific evidence, current feeding guidelines recommend delayed introduction of solids for the prevention of asthma and allergy.

Aims: To explore whether late introduction of solids is protective against the development of asthma, eczema, and atopy.

Methods: A total of 642 children were recruited before birth and followed to the age of 5 years. Main outcome measures were: doctor’s diagnosis of eczema ever, atopy according to skin prick test results against inhalant allergens, preschool wheezing, transient wheezing, all defined at age 5–5 years. Introduction of solids as main exposure measure was assessed retrospectively at age 1 year.

Results: There was no evidence for a protective effect of late introduction of solids for the development of preschool wheezing, transient wheezing, atopy, or eczema. On the contrary, there was a statistically significant increased risk of eczema in relation to late introduction of egg (aOR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1 to 2.4) and milk (aOR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1 to 2.5). Late introduction of egg was furthermore associated with a non-significant increased risk of preschool wheezing (aOR 1.5, 95% CI 0.92 to 2.4). There was no statistical evidence of feeding practices playing a different role in the development of asthma and eczema after stratification for parental asthma and atopy status.

Conclusions: Results do not support the recommendations given by present feeding guidelines stating that a delayed introduction of solids is protective against the development of asthma and allergy.

Keywords: cohort; eczema; nutrition; solids; wheezing

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

Relevant Article

Atoms

Howard Bauchner
Arch. Dis. Child. 2004 89: 295. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Bush, A. (2009). Update in Pediatric Lung Disease 2008. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 179: 637-649 [Full Text]  
• Snijders, B. E.P., Thijs, C., van Ree, R., van den Brandt, P. A. (2008). Age at First Introduction of Cow Milk Products and Other Food Products in Relation to Infant Atopic Manifestations in the First 2 Years of Life: The KOALA Birth Cohort Study. Pediatrics 122: e115-e122 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Greer, F. R., Sicherer, S. H., Burks, A. W., and the Committee on Nutrition and Section on Alle, (2008). Effects of Early Nutritional Interventions on the Development of Atopic Disease in Infants and Children: The Role of Maternal Dietary Restriction, Breastfeeding, Timing of Introduction of Complementary Foods, and Hydrolyzed Formulas. Pediatrics 121: 183-191 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Hopkins, D., Emmett, P., Steer, C., Rogers, I., Noble, S., Emond, A. (2007). Infant feeding in the second 6 months of life related to iron status: an observational study. Arch. Dis. Child. 92: 850-854 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Poole, J. A., Barriga, K., Leung, D. Y.M., Hoffman, M., Eisenbarth, G. S., Rewers, M., Norris, J. M. (2006). Timing of initial exposure to cereal grains and the risk of wheat allergy.. Pediatrics 117: 2175-2182 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Tarini, B. A., Carroll, A. E., Sox, C. M., Christakis, D. A. (2006). Systematic Review of the Relationship Between Early Introduction of Solid Foods to Infants and the Development of Allergic Disease. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 160: 502-507 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Zutavern, A., Brockow, I., Schaaf, B., Bolte, G., von Berg, A., Diez, U., Borte, M., Herbarth, O., Wichmann, H-E., Heinrich, J., the LISA Study Group, (2006). Timing of Solid Food Introduction in Relation to Atopic Dermatitis and Atopic Sensitization: Results From a Prospective Birth Cohort Study. Pediatrics 117: 401-411 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Khakoo, G A, Lack, G (2004). Introduction of solids to the infant diet. Arch. Dis. Child. 89: 295-295 [Full Text]