Maternal Diet and Infant Risk of Eczema and Food Allergy: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
• Nutritional Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Allergy diseases affect a substantial number of children globally, posing a significant public health challenge.
• Investigating the influence of maternal diet during pregnancy and lactation on offspring allergy development is crucial for prevention.
• Identifying dietary factors can lead to targeted strategies to reduce pediatric allergy incidence and associated healthcare costs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the scientific literature published between January 2019 and December 2022.
• To determine if a relationship exists between maternal nutrition and the development of food allergy and eczema in children.
• To identify protective and non-protective maternal dietary factors for offspring allergic outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review.
• Focus on studies examining maternal diet during pregnancy and/or breastfeeding.
• Inclusion criteria limited to studies reporting on food allergy and eczema in offspring.

Main Results:

• The review synthesizes findings on the association between specific maternal dietary patterns and pediatric food allergy and eczema.
• Identifies key nutrients or food groups that may confer protection or increase risk.
• Highlights gaps in current research regarding maternal nutrition and allergy development.

Conclusions:

• Maternal nutrition during critical periods may play a role in modulating the risk of developing food allergies and eczema in children.
• Evidence suggests certain dietary approaches may be beneficial for allergy prevention.
• Further research is needed to solidify protective/non-protective dietary recommendations for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.