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 .
Breast-feeding does not protect against allergic sensitization in early childhood and allergy-associated disease at age 7 years.
BACKGROUND Extended breast-feeding is recommended for newborn children at risk of allergy-associated diseases , but the evidence of a protective effect on sensitization and these diseases remains elusive . OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the duration of exclusive breast-feeding on the development of sensitization in preschool children . METHODS Information on breast-feeding was gathered by interviews involving 335 children aged 1 , 6 , and 12 months from the Copenhagen Prospect i ve Study on Asthma in Childhood2000 birth cohort born to mothers with a history of asthma . Skin prick test responses and specific IgE levels against 12 common inhalant and 10 food allergens were assessed longitudinally at ages ½ year , 1½ years , 4 years , and 6 years . Eczema , wheeze/asthma , and allergic rhinitis were diagnosed at the Copenhagen Prospect i ve Studies on Asthma in Childhood clinic at 7 years of age , strictly adhering to predefined algorithms . Associations between duration of exclusive breast-feeding and outcomes were analyzed by logistic regression . RESULTS We found no significant association between duration of  exclusive breast-feeding and development of sensitization in the first 6 years of life ( odds ratio [ OR ] : ½ year , 1.10 [ 95 % CI , 0.90 - 1.36 ] ; 1½ years , 1.15 [ 95 % CI , 0.97 - 1.36 ] ; 4 years , 1.08 [ 95 % CI , 0.93 - 1.25 ] ; and 6 years , 0.96 [ 95 % CI , 0.84 - 1.10 ] ) or with current eczema , wheeze/asthma , and allergic rhinitis at age 7 years ( OR , 1.07 [ 95 % CI , 0.92 - 1.24 ] ; OR , 0.97 [ 95 % CI , 0.82 - 1.14 ] ; and OR , 1.02 [ 95 % CI , 0.84 - 1.23 ] , respectively ) . Adjusting for reverse causation by excluding children with eczema , wheeze , or a positive skin prick test response before ending exclusive breast-feeding did not alter the results . CONCLUSION Exclusive breast-feeding does not affect sensitization in early childhood or associated diseases at 7 years of age in at-risk children
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 .