Food allergy is associated with an increased risk of asthma

Abstract

Background The atopic march is well documented, but the inter-relationship of food allergy (FA) and asthma is not well understood. Objective To examine the strength of the association and temporal relationships between food allergy and asthma. Methods This analysis included 271 children ≥6 years (older group) and 296 children <6 years (younger group) from a family-based FA cohort in Chicago, IL. Asthma was determined by parental report of physician diagnosis. FA status was determined based on type and timing of clinical symptoms after ingestion of a specific food, and results of prick skin test (Multi-Test II) and allergen specific IgE (Phadia ImmunoCAP). Analyses were carried out using logistic regression accounting for important covariates and autocorrelations among siblings. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to compare the time to onset of asthma by FA status. Results Symptomatic FA was associated with asthma in both older (OR=4.9, 95%CI:2.5–9.5) and younger children (OR=5.3, 95%CI:1.7–16.2). The association was stronger among children with multiple or severe food allergies, especially in older children. Children with FA developed asthma earlier and at higher prevalence than children without FA (Cox Proportional hazard ratio=3.7, 95%CI:2.2–6.3 for children ≥6 years and hazard ratio=3.3, 95%CI:1.1–10 for children <6 years of age). No associations were seen between asymptomatic food sensitization and asthma. Conclusions Independent of markers of atopy such as aeroallergen sensitization and family history of asthma, there was a significant association between FA and asthma. This association was even stronger in subjects with multiple food allergies or severe food allergy.

Correlation Of Specific IgE To Shrimp With Cockroach and Dust Mite Exposure and Sensitization in an Inner City Population

“…In the same study [2], the authors found that subjects with asthma had increased risk of all measures of food sensitization, adding further support for the association between food allergy and asthma [3][4][5]. However, it is well known that IgE-binding cross-reactive epitopes between food allergens and environmental allergens may contribute to elevated IgE levels [6][7][8].…”

Asthma and Food Allergy Management in Chicago Public Schools

“…[11][12][13][14][15][16] What is less clear, however, is why students who had documented food allergy in this study had much higher rates of asthma than students with asthma had food allergy. Of note, it has been demonstrated that children who have food allergy tend to develop asthma at a younger age 17 and also have more severe asthma symptoms. 18 To this end, our finding may represent true variability in comorbid atopic disease, or may represent disparities intrinsic to the chronic disease reporting and verification process within the school district.…”

Clinical and Laboratory Evaluation of Cases with Egg Allergy

“…Schroeder ve ark. (16) semptomatik gıda allerjisi olan çocuklarda astımın daha sık ve daha erken bulgu verdiğini bildirmişlerdir. Ayrıca aynı çalışma-da, ağır ve çoklu gıda allerjisi olan çocuklarda astım görülme sıklığının daha da anlamlı olduğunu göster-mişlerdir.…”