Abstract
Background: Adverse food reactions include food allergy (FA; immune mediated) and food intolerances (non-immune mediated). FA are classified into IgE and non-IgE mediated FA. There is limited information available about changes in FA prevalence over time.
Methods: Two cohorts of children were evaluated, born on the Isle of Wight (IOW) 12 years apart. The IOW birth cohort (IOWBC; 1989 – 1990) and the FA and Intolerance Research birth cohort (FAIRBC; 2001 – 2002). We compared the prevalence of parental reported reactions to foods (adverse food reactions), allergic sensitization to foods and FA between the IOWBC and FAIRBC, at ages 1, 2, 3-4 and 10 years. FA included both IgE and non-IgE mediated FA.
Results: Reported adverse reactions to food and sensitization rates remained stable between the two cohorts. For example, FA at age 3-4 years was reported in 9.1% (95% CI 7.5, 10.7) in IOWBC and 8.3% (95% CI 6.5, 10.1) in FAIRBC (P=0.57) and food sensitization by skin prick test at age 3-4 years was found in 3.2% (95% CI 2.1, 4.3) in IOWBC and 4.5% (95% CI 2.9, 6.1) in FAIRBC (P=0.20). Confirmed FA prevalence was lower in FAIRBC then IOWBC at ages 1, 2 and 3-4, but these differences were not significant after adjustment for multiple comparisons. For example, FA at age 3-4 years was confirmed in 5.0% (95%CI 3.8, 6.2) in IOWBC and 3.0% (95% CI 1.9, 4.2) in FAIRBC (P=0.03, significance threshold after Bonferroni correction P<0.004). Confirmed cow’s milk allergy rate was higher in IOWBC than FAIRBC at 3 years (<0.001) but not at other timepoints.
Conclusion: Our data show no evidence of changes in rates of adverse reactions to foods, food sensitization or food allergy during the first 10 years of life between two cohorts born in England in 1989-90 and 2001-2.
Methods: Two cohorts of children were evaluated, born on the Isle of Wight (IOW) 12 years apart. The IOW birth cohort (IOWBC; 1989 – 1990) and the FA and Intolerance Research birth cohort (FAIRBC; 2001 – 2002). We compared the prevalence of parental reported reactions to foods (adverse food reactions), allergic sensitization to foods and FA between the IOWBC and FAIRBC, at ages 1, 2, 3-4 and 10 years. FA included both IgE and non-IgE mediated FA.
Results: Reported adverse reactions to food and sensitization rates remained stable between the two cohorts. For example, FA at age 3-4 years was reported in 9.1% (95% CI 7.5, 10.7) in IOWBC and 8.3% (95% CI 6.5, 10.1) in FAIRBC (P=0.57) and food sensitization by skin prick test at age 3-4 years was found in 3.2% (95% CI 2.1, 4.3) in IOWBC and 4.5% (95% CI 2.9, 6.1) in FAIRBC (P=0.20). Confirmed FA prevalence was lower in FAIRBC then IOWBC at ages 1, 2 and 3-4, but these differences were not significant after adjustment for multiple comparisons. For example, FA at age 3-4 years was confirmed in 5.0% (95%CI 3.8, 6.2) in IOWBC and 3.0% (95% CI 1.9, 4.2) in FAIRBC (P=0.03, significance threshold after Bonferroni correction P<0.004). Confirmed cow’s milk allergy rate was higher in IOWBC than FAIRBC at 3 years (<0.001) but not at other timepoints.
Conclusion: Our data show no evidence of changes in rates of adverse reactions to foods, food sensitization or food allergy during the first 10 years of life between two cohorts born in England in 1989-90 and 2001-2.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Clinical and Experimental Allergy |
| Publication status | Accepted/In press - Nov 2024 |