Hygeia Public Health 2021, 56(1): 37-41pl

Impact of infants´ and nursing mothers´ diet on the occurrence of allergies in the first decade of life of children from south-western Poland

Mateusz Witkowski ^1/, Alicja Widerska-Kurzawa ^2/, Anna Stodolak ^3/, Halina Grajeta ^1/

1/ Katedra i Zakład Bromatologii i Dietetyki, Uniwersytet Medyczny im. Piastów Śląskich we Wrocławiu
2/ I Katedra i Klinika Pediatrii, Alergologii i Kardiologii, Oddział Kliniczny Alergologii Dziecięcej, Uniwersytecki Szpital Kliniczny we Wrocławiu
3/ Katedra Pediatrii, Zakład Propedeutyki Pediatrii i Chorób Rzadkich, Uniwersytet Medyczny im. Piastów Śląskich we Wrocławiu

Summary
Introduction. Allergies are currently a serious health problem. Genetic and environmental factors, including nutritional factors, affect the development of such diseases. Proper nutrition also plays a significant role in the treatment of food allergies (FA).
Aim. To evaluate the impact of nutrition in infants and nursing mothers on the occurrence of allergies in the first decade of life in children from south-western Poland and the effects of the elimination diet (ED) in FA.
Materials and method. The study involved the parents of allergic (44) and healthy (36) children aged 1-10 years from the south-western Poland. A questionnaire consisting of 32 questions concerning, i.a. anthropometric data, the compliance of the child´s diet with current recommendations, the use of ED by children with FA and nursing mothers and the occurrence of an allergy in parents was used for the research.
Result and conclusion. The children of mothers eliminating some foods during lactation significantly more often suffered from allergies in the 1st decade of life. There was no relationship between the occurrence of an allergy and the time of natural feeding, the time of introducing the infant feeding formula and solid food and type of the first solid food. A significant percentage of allergic children had an allergy to milk proteins (AMP). In addition, in the subgroup of patients with FA, the benefits of the ED were observed. The diet of the nursing mother may have an impact on the development of the FA in her children. The number of children with AMP in the 1st year of life shows that it is a significant allergological problem. The effects of using ED in children with FA suggests that it is the right therapeutic treatment in this group of patients.

Key words:  food alergy, children, elimination diet