[Food allergies in Iceland - A review]

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Food allergies represent a significant and growing public health issue globally, with Iceland experiencing a similar trend.
• Prior to the 21st century, limited data existed on the prevalence of food allergies within the Icelandic population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review key research on food allergies in Iceland, focusing on IgE-mediated allergies.
• To summarize findings from international collaborative studies involving Icelandic participants.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from multiple international food allergy studies conducted in Iceland.
• Inclusion of studies on various age groups, including infants, children, and adults.
• Focus on IgE antibody testing and confirmed food allergy diagnoses.

Main Results:

• Early studies indicated food allergies in 1.85% of 18-month-old Icelandic children, with egg allergy being most prevalent.
• Later research showed IgE antibodies for 24 foods in 7.7% of adults and 11% of children, with confirmed allergies at 1.4% and 1.9% respectively.
• Follow-up studies on newborns revealed 1.86% had confirmed food allergies by age one, with specific allergies to milk and eggs noted at later ages.

Conclusions:

• Icelandic participation in international research has significantly improved understanding of food allergy prevalence.
• Egg allergy is consistently identified as the most common food allergy across different age groups in Iceland.
• The findings underscore the importance of continued research and public health strategies to address the rising prevalence of food allergies.