Dietary Intake, Diet Diversity, and Weight Status of Children With Food Allergy

Assessment of the Diet Quality Index and Its Constituents in Preschool Children Diagnosed with a Food Allergy as Part of the "Living with an Allergy" Project

Pediatric food allergies (FAs) are health conditions that adversely impact the quality of life of children and their caregivers.

AIM

The primary objective of the present study was to assess the quality of the diets administered to allergic children based on the Healthy Diet Index (HID-10), to determine the influence of parental knowledge about FAs and the elimination diet, and to identify the factors that contribute to healthy food choices.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This study was conducted as part of the "Living with an Allergy" research and educational program for preschool children, which was implemented between June 2021 and June 2023 in the city of Lublin.

RESULTS

Food allergies were diagnosed and confirmed in 241 children, including 106 boys (44%). A higher number of unhealthy dietary factors (DQI-1) was significantly associated with gender, and lower DQI values were more often noted in boys (p < 0.05). In turn, a higher number of health-promoting dietary factors (DQI-3) was significantly associated with a younger age in children (OR 1.54; 95%CI 1.17-1.74, p < 0.01) and with an older age in parents (OR 1.43; 95%CI 1.2-1.67, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Children whose diets, including the necessary modifications, were recommended by a physician or a dietitian were characterized by significantly higher DQI values and a higher number of health-promoting dietary factors. The diets of children with FAs should consist mainly of unprocessed foods to control the intake of unhealthy products that suppress immunity.

Are We Meeting the Needs? A Systematic Review of Nutritional Gaps and Growth Outcomes in Children with Multiple Food Allergies

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Food allergies represent a growing public health challenge, showing an alarming increase in prevalence over the past few decades. Children with multiple food allergies face not only allergic reaction risks but also nutritional gaps, affecting diet, nutrition, and growth. This review summarizes the impact on nutrient intake and growth, highlighting key challenges and strategies to improve clinical care.

METHODS

The literature search was conducted using a structured search strategy in PubMed up to 31 January, using MeSH terms with Boolean operators (AND, OR) to combine searches (food hypersensitivity AND growth, food hypersensitivity AND nutrition, food hypersensitivity AND micronutrient, food hypersensitivity AND vitamin, food hypersensitivity AND trace element, and soy hypersensitivity) for human studies meeting pre-defined PICOS criteria that simultaneously assessed the reproducibility and validity.

RESULTS

Nearly 2000 studies were identified in the literature search, with 31 articles selected for full-text evaluation and 11 articles included in the final review. Dietary restrictions imposed by the need to avoid multiple allergens can lead to a reduced intake of essential nutrients, particularly proteins, calcium, iron, zinc, iodine, folate, vitamin B12, and vitamin D. Children with multiple FAs appear to be at an increased risk of impaired growth, as evidenced by the lower height-for-age, weight-for-age, head-circumference, and weight-for-length Z-scores compared to non-allergic peers.

CONCLUSIONS

Evidence from the studies reviewed suggests that children with multiple FAs may be at increased risk for growth impairments and nutritional inadequacies, especially where dietary management does not adequately compensate for nutrient losses, and highlights that tailored dietary counseling is crucial.

Overweight and obesity among adolescents in Saudi Arabia: a multi-school cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Obesity in adolescence may track into adulthood. Understanding the multifactorial nature of obesity is necessary to curb the growing trends. This study aimed to provide updated estimates on the prevalence of overweight and obesity among adolescents and to scrutinize the associations with parental weight status and various lifestyle and socioeconomic factors.

METHODS

For this cross-sectional study, participants were recruited from 16 schools located in Jeddah and Madina, Saudi Arabia. Data of 522 adolescents (11-18 years of age) and their parents were collected through self-administered questionnaires. Anthropometric measurements of adolescents were assessed at the school sites. Logistic regression with complex sampling adjustments was conducted to examine the associations of adolescent overweight or obesity with various lifestyle and socioeconomic factors and parental weight status.

RESULTS

Overweight and obesity was prevalent by 13.2% and 26.1%, respectively. Living in a single-parent household, maternal obesity, and the coexistence of parental obesity were associated with an increased likelihood of overweight or obesity in adolescents. Stratified analyses by adolescent sex revealed different associations for boys and girls.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings highlight the importance of the family environment and the necessity to enroll parents when implementing adolescence obesity prevention programs. Health promotion strategies that promote environmental changes related to healthy lifestyle and dietary practices are needed to eliminate the rising obesity trends.

Food Allergy, Nutrition, Psychology, and Health

This article explores food allergy and the nascent field of nutritional psychiatry. Individuals with food allergy experience lower levels of "food freedom" than their nonallergic counterparts, which can create cognitive, emotional, social, nutritional, and financial burdens. Patterns of food avoidance may influence neuroinflammatory states and the gut microbiome; these changes may be associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms. Food restriction may promote disruption of the microbiome neuroimmune axis, which has been linked to various allergic diseases. Targeted psychological counseling strategies can provide benefit. Food allergy and restricted diets may impact dietary health benefits.