Influence of Persistent Food Allergy on Nutritional Status of Children With Food Allergy
Condition: Food Allergy
MeSH terms: Hypersensitivity; Food Hypersensitivity
Study type: Observational

Summary: 
      The goal of this single center retrospective cohort study with observational longitudinal
      follow up is to compare food - allergic children (egg, milk and peanut allergy) with children
      in control group (children without any food allergy).

      The main question[s] it aims to answer are:

        -  If children with food allergy groups will have lower food intake od micronutrients?

        -  If growth in children with food allergy is worse as in control group?

        -  If they are more malnourished and in the food allergies group is more stunting than in
           the control group?

        -  If children with milk allergy have lower intake of calcium in their diet and lower
           mineral bone density?

      Participants will be asked to do 3 day food diary and to have blood analysed (hemograme,
      complete blood count, serum iron status, serum protein).

      If there is a comparison group: Researchers will compare milk, egg and peanut allergy group
      to the control group (peers without food allergy) to see if the food allergy affects growth,
      macronutrient, micronutrient intake.
    

Detailed description: 
      Study design A single center retrospective cohort study with observational longitudinal
      follow up will be performed. The study will include three intervention groups (milk, egg and
      peanut allergy) and a control group (children with no food allergy). Patients will be 2 to 12
      years old. The patients will be recruited at our University Medical Center Ljubljana,
      Pediatric hospital Ljubljana, outpatient care of our Department for Allergology, Rheumatology
      and Clinical Immunology. This study will be conducted according to the guidelines in
      Declaration of Helsinki and approved by Ethics Committee of Slovenia. Written informed
      consent will be obtained from all the subject's caregivers. The investigators will follow
      patients from confirmation of food allergy on and will collect data about their weight (kg)
      and height (cm) from our information system or patients' doctor (or caregiver). The
      investigators will collect data prospectively for 3 months from outpatient registry of our
      clinic. At the day of appointment patients will bring 3-day nutrition diary which was later
      analyzed by dietitian. The parents will attend an appointment by the dietitian where they
      will be informed about food diary analysis result and given the advice to enhance nutrition
      if necessary.
    

Intervention name(s): Blood sample analysis; Anthropometrics measurement - at inclusion to the study (all groups).; Bone mineral density measurement (DXA); Influence of food allergy on growth (intervention groups)
Intervention type(s): Biological; Other; Radiation; Other
Intervention description(s): Analysis of complete blood count, hemogram, serum proteins, serum iron status (iron, transferin, ferritin). Group comparison - intervention vs. control.; Measurement of body height (cm), weight (kg) and calculating BMI (kg/m2). Group comparison - intervention vs. control.; Analysis of bone mineral density with DXA in patients with milk allegy. Analysis ordered by medical doctor.; Gathering the data about of body height (cm), weight (kg) BMI (kg/m2) at the diagnosis of food allergy and comparison versus data at the enrollment in the study to asses growth.
Observational model: Case-Control
Time perspective: Retrospective
Sampling method: Non-Probability Sample
Study population: 
        Patients with food-allergy were between 2 and 12 years old. All children in intervention
        group had IgE-mediated food allergy (skin prick test and/or speciﬁc IgE combined with an
        allergy focused history) to milk, egg or peanut.

        In control group there were children between 2 and 12 years old, with no food allergy
        (patients with bee venom or drug allergy).
      
Biospecimen description: 
      Blood samples for analysis