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Allergic sensitization and diet: ecological analysis in selected European cities

¹ GSF National Research Center for Environment and Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Neuherberg and ² University of Applied Sciences Albstadt-Sigmaringen, Dept of Food and Hygiene Technology, Sigmaringen, Germany

CORRESPONDENCE: J. Heinrich, GSF National Research Center for Environment and Health, Institute of Epidemiology, D-85758, Neuherberg, Germany. Fax: +498931873380

Keywords: allergic sensitization, antioxidants, diet, ecological study, ECHRS, fatty acids

Received: February 1, 2000
Accepted May 28, 2000

It has been postulated that the prevalence of atopic diseases and their increase over time are associated with regional differences in diet and trends. The results of an ecological correlation study comparing the mean daily intake of selected dietary constituents and the prevalence of allergic sensitization in adults in Europe is presented.

Prevalence data from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) were used. For eight out of 37 ECRHS centres (including 3,872 subjects), comparable dietary data could be obtained. The effect for each dietary constituent was modelled using logistic regression analyses with a term for over dispersion.

Inverse associations between the prevalence of allergic sensitization and the energy adjusted intake of fruit were found (odds ratio (OR)=0.68, p=0.034). Furthermore OR for energy adjusted intake of vitamin A (OR=0.73, p=0.057), vitamin C (OR=0.83, p=0.338) and riboflavin (OR=0.72, p=0.077) were consistently <1, but confidence intervals were wider. Daily intake of monounsaturated fatty acids (energy adjusted) was positively associated with sensitization prevalence (OR=1.59, p=0.035).

These results support the hypothesis that a high intake of monounsaturated fatty acids might promote the development of allergic sensitization.

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