Despite several intervention trials involving modifications to the maternal diet , the effect of maternal diet during pregnancy and lactation in preventing food allergy remains unclear .
Summary Earlier introduction of allergenic foods is a promising intervention to reduce the risk of some food allergies in high-risk infants .
Purpose of review In the past decade , food allergy has been increasingly recognized as an important public health issue .
The role of maternal and infant diet in the development of food allergy has been a major focus of research throughout this period .
Recently , research in this area has moved from observational studies to intervention trials , and the findings from these trials have started to influence infant feeding guidelines .
In this article , we review recent studies of dietary interventions for preventing food allergy , summarize current knowledge and discuss future research directions .
VITALITY trial: protocol for a randomised controlled trial to establish the role of postnatal vitamin D supplementation in infant immune health
Introduction Postnatal vitamin D supplementation may be associated with a reduction in IgE-mediated food allergy , lower respiratory tract infections and improved bone health . Countries in the Northern hemisphere recommend universal infant vitamin D supplementation to optimise early vitamin D levels , despite the absence of large trials proving safety or efficacy for any disease outcome . With the aim of determining the clinical and cost-effectiveness of daily vitamin D supplementation in breastfed infants from age 6–8 weeks to 12 months of age , we have started a double-blind , r and omised , placebo-controlled trial of daily 400 IU vitamin D supplementation during the first year of life , VITALITY . Methods nd analysis Infants ( n=3012 ) who are fully breastfed and not receiving vitamin D supplementation will be recruited at the time of their first immunisation , from council-led immunisation clinics throughout metropolitan Melbourne , Australia . The primary outcome is challenge-proven food allergy at 12 months of age . Secondary outcomes are food sensitisation ( positive skin prick test ) , number of lower respiratory infections ( through hospital linkage ) , moderately-severe and persistent eczema ( by history and examination ) and vitamin D deficiency ( serum vitamin D < 50 nmol/L ) at age 12 months . The trial is underway and the first 130 participants have been recruited . Ethics and dissemination The VITALITY study is approved by the Royal Children 's Hospital ( RCH ) Human Research Ethics Committee ( # 34168 ) . Outcomes will be disseminated through publication and will be presented at scientific conferences . Trial registration numbers ANZCTR12614000334606 and NCT02112734 ; pre- results
Despite several intervention trials involving modifications to the maternal diet , the effect of maternal diet during pregnancy and lactation in preventing food allergy remains unclear .
Summary Earlier introduction of allergenic foods is a promising intervention to reduce the risk of some food allergies in high-risk infants .
Purpose of review In the past decade , food allergy has been increasingly recognized as an important public health issue .
The role of maternal and infant diet in the development of food allergy has been a major focus of research throughout this period .
Recently , research in this area has moved from observational studies to intervention trials , and the findings from these trials have started to influence infant feeding guidelines .
In this article , we review recent studies of dietary interventions for preventing food allergy , summarize current knowledge and discuss future research directions .