231 Influence of maternal diet during lactation upon allergic manifestation in infants - tolerisation or sensitisation?

Myths and facts about breastfeeding: Does it prevent later atopic disease?

“…According to Gustafsson et a]., there is no difference in the incidence of atopic disease at the age of 7, 11 and 14 y in infants with a family history of atopic disease, fed either mother's milk, without elimination diet in the mothers, or CMP (58). A maternal exclusion diet during lactation not only does not reduce atopy, but increases the prevalence of eczema and allergy, again suggesting that infant food allergen exposure via maternal intake produces tolerance rather than sensitization (59). This finding helps to understand the data of Host et a].…”

Epidemiology of food allergy

“…These studies suggested that food sensitization in utero is an uncommon event. However, recent studies by Warner et a1 suggested that lymphocytes are programmed in utero for allergen sensitization (54), and that small amounts of food allergens in breast milk are necessary to promote the development of tolerance (55). The latter finding is in distinct contrast to a number of previous studies evaluating measures to prevent the development of atopy, as discussed below.…”

Dietary Aspects of Food Allergy Prevention in Infants and Children

“…Another study that raises concerns regarding maternal diets in the pursuit of food allergy prevention is a recent nonrandomized nested case‐control investigation from Southampton, United Kingdom, that reported that infants from dieting mothers had significantly more development of eczema and food sensitization from 6 to 18 months of age (23). Whether lack of randomization and confounding remains responsible for these differences will only be resolved by a definitive prospective, randomized, multicenter lactation diet study.…”