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Is maternal age at delivery related to childhood food allergy?

Anahita F Dioun1, Sion Kim Harris, Patricia L Hibberd

  • 1Division of Immunology, Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. anahita.dioun@tch.harvard.edu

Pediatric Allergy and Immunology : Official Publication of the European Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
|August 13, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Older maternal age at delivery is linked to a higher risk of food allergies in children. This preliminary study suggests maternal age over 30 and being a firstborn child are key predictors.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
  • Reproductive Epidemiology

Background:

  • Rising prevalence of childhood food allergies.
  • Increasing average maternal age at childbirth.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between maternal age at delivery and the development of food allergies in children.
  • To identify potential risk factors for pediatric food allergies.

Main Methods:

  • Case-control study comparing children with food allergies to healthy controls.
  • Inclusion of a large population-based birth cohort for comparison.
  • Analysis of maternal age at birth and birth order using logistic regression.

Main Results:

  • Mothers of children with food allergies were significantly more likely to be aged 30 or over at delivery (78% vs. 55%).
  • Maternal age over 30 and being a firstborn child were independent predictors of childhood food allergy.
  • Children with food allergies had approximately three times greater odds of having mothers aged 30+.

Conclusions:

  • Older maternal age at delivery is associated with an increased risk of food allergies in children.
  • Maternal age and birth order may play roles in the development of pediatric food allergies.
  • Further research is warranted to explore preventive strategies for food allergies.

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