HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (18) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Heinrich, J. Articles by Winkler, G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Heinrich, J. Articles by Winkler, G.

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.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. M. McKeever and J. Britton Diet and Asthma Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., October 1, 2004; 170(7): 725 - 729. [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Farchi, F. Forastiere, N. Agabiti, G. Corbo, R. Pistelli, C. Fortes, V. Dell'Orco, and C.A. Perucci Dietary factors associated with wheezing and allergic rhinitis in children Eur. Respir. J., November 1, 2003; 22(5): 772 - 780. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. M. McKeever, S. Scrivener, E. Broadfield, Z. Jones, J. Britton, and S. A. Lewis Prospective Study of Diet and Decline in Lung Function in a General Population Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., May 1, 2002; 165(9): 1299 - 1303. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]