Margarine Consumption and Allergy in Children

Abstract

Dietary fat consumption is hypothesized to influence atopy development by modulation of IgE production. The aim of our study was to assess whether margarine consumption is associated with allergic sensitization and diseases in children. Data of a cross-sectional health survey in 1998-1999 comprising 2,348 children age 5 to 14 yr were analyzed. Information on type of fat used as spread during the past 12 mo, children's health, and sociodemographic factors were gathered by questionnaire. Allergic sensitization to common aeroallergens was assessed by specific serum IgE. Compared with butter consumption, margarine consumption was associated with allergic sensitization (adjusted odds ratio 1.30 [95% confidence interval: 1.01 to 1.67]) and with rhinitis symptoms during the past 12 mo (1.41 [1.01 to 1.97]). Sex-stratified analysis showed that these associations were limited to boys (boys: sensitization 1.57 [1.12 to 2.20], rhinitis symptoms 1.76 [1.12 to 2.78]; girls: sensitization 0.99 [0.67 to 1.46], rhinitis symptoms 1.03 [0.63 to 1.70]). No statistically significant relation was observed between exclusive margarine consumption and ever physician-diagnosed hay fever or asthma in all children. In conclusion, the sex difference in the association of margarine consumption with allergic sensitization was in accordance with the higher IgE concentrations and atopy prevalence in boys compared with girls. Increased intake of certain polyunsaturated fatty acids might further stimulate IgE production in boys.

Food and fatty acid intake and atopic disease in adults

“…The finding in the current study of a relation of margarine consumption to hay fever prevalence in males, is consistent with the findings from a cross-sectional study conducted in children [7]. Also, results from a Japanese study support the role of PUFA intake, assessed with a food frequency protocol, in the aetiology of seasonal allergic-rhinoconjunctivitis in females.…”

“…Previous epidemiological studies in Germany used data on the preferred type of spreadable fats on bread as a surrogate for the type of consumed fat and without specific fatty acid determination. The authors did not consider that the total fat intake from the diet may influence the immune response [7][8][9]20].…”

“…The supply of omega-6 fatty acids, such as linoleic acid, may increase arachidonic acid, which enhances the formation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and of immunoglobulin E (IgE) [2,[4][5][6]. Available epidemiological evidence is often sex specific [7][8][9]. Whether these sex differences might be related to known sex-specific dietary habits is highly speculative.…”

Allergic sensitisation and allergic rhinitis are associated with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the diet and in red blood cell membranes

“…Although immune response characteristics are thought to be defined in the early phase of life, there is evidence that in childhood and even in adulthood dietary factors can modulate the clinical manifestation of atopic diseases (von Mutius, 2000;Bolte et al, 2001). Of the few epidemiological studies in adults that have investigated the effects of fatty acids-largely based on dietary intake data-and the risk of allergic sensitisation and allergic rhinitis, inconsistent results have been provided Wakai et al, 2001;Nagel et al, 2003;Trak-Fellermeier et al, 2004).…”

Associations of intake of antioxidant vitamins and fatty acids with asthma in pre-school children

“…Therefore, it is postulated that a lower dietary intake of antioxidants induced by dietary change leads to the attenuation of antioxidant defence in the lung and enhances susceptibility to airway inflammation and asthma (3,9) . Epidemiological studies have investigated the relationship of dietary antioxidants and fat intake to asthma; however, indisputable results have not been obtained (10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26) . So far, only one systematic review on diet and childhood asthma has been done, which also concluded that the evidence for the link between vitamins and fat and asthma was insufficient (27) .…”