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Association between factor analysis-derived dietary patterns at 24 months of age and allergic diseases in toddlers
Hyoyeon Son1, Weiqi Hong2,3,4,5, Won Jang6
1Department of Food and Nutrition, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Korea.
Insights
Early Korean toddler diets impact allergy risk. A pattern high in seasoning, butter, and meat increased allergic disease odds, while dairy intake was linked to lower atopic dermatitis risk.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Immunology
- Allergy Research
Background:
- Early-life diet is crucial for immune system development.
- Dietary habits in early childhood may influence the risk of developing allergic diseases.
- Understanding these associations can inform public health strategies for allergy prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between specific dietary patterns at 24 months of age and the prevalence of allergic diseases in Korean toddlers.
- To identify dietary components that may increase or decrease the risk of allergic conditions in early childhood.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 433 toddlers from the Korean Mothers and Children's Environmental Health (MOCEH) cohort.
- Dietary patterns were identified using factor analysis of 26 food groups based on two 24-hour recalls.
- Associations between dietary pattern tertiles and allergic diseases (assessed by caregiver questionnaires) were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression.
Main Results:
- Three distinct dietary patterns were identified: Pattern 1 (rice, kimchi, vegetables), Pattern 2 (seasoning, butter, meat), and Pattern 3 (milk, dairy).
- Higher intake of Pattern 2 (seasoning, butter, meat) was significantly associated with increased odds of other allergic diseases (OR: 7.55) and any allergic disease (OR: 2.03).
- Higher intake of Pattern 3 (dairy) showed an inverse association with atopic dermatitis (OR: 0.51).
Conclusions:
- Dietary patterns in early childhood play a role in the development of allergic diseases.
- A diet rich in seasoning, butter, and meat may elevate the risk of allergic conditions in toddlers.
- Consumption of dairy products appears to be protective against atopic dermatitis in this population.
Background And Objectives:
Early-life diet may influence immune development and the risk of allergic diseases. This study investigated associations between dietary patterns at 24 months of age and allergic diseases in Korean toddlers.
Methods And Study Design:
In this cross-sectional study, 433 toddlers from the Korean Mothers and Children's Environmental Health (MOCEH) cohort were included. Dietary intake was assessed using two non-consecutive 24-hour recalls. Factor analysis of 26 food groups identified dietary patterns, and individual pattern scores were categorized into tertiles based on ascending distribution. Allergic diseases were determined by caregiver questionnaires. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess associations, adjusting for confounders.
Results:
Three dietary patterns were identified: Pattern 1 (white rice, kimchi, and non-salt-preserved vegetables), Pattern 2 (seasoning, butter, and meat), and Pattern 3 (milk and dairy products). Compared with the lowest tertile, the highest tertile of Pattern 2 was associated with higher odds of other allergic diseases (OR: 7.55; 95% CI: 1.62-35.23), and any allergic disease (OR: 2.03; 95% CI: 1.10-3.73). Pattern 3 was inversely associated with atopic dermatitis (OR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.27-0.98), while Pattern 1 showed no significant association.
Conclusions:
Early childhood dietary patterns may influence the development of allergic disease. A pattern characterized by seasoning, butter, and meat was associated with an increased risk of allergic disease, whereas a dairy-based pattern was inversely associated with atopic dermatitis in Korean toddlers.
