Vitamin D insufficiency in the first 6 months of infancy and challenge-proven IgE-mediated food allergy at 1 year of age: a case-cohort study

Abstract

Background

Ecological evidence suggests vitamin D insufficiency (VDI) due to lower ambient ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure may be a risk factor for IgE-mediated food allergy. However there are no studies relating directly measured VDI during early infancy to subsequent challenge-proven food allergy.

Objective

To prospectively investigate the association between VDI during infancy and challenge-proven food allergy at 1 year.

Methods

In a birth cohort (n=1074), we used a case-cohort design to compare 25-hydroxy-vitamin-D₃ (25(OH)D₃) levels among infants with food allergy versus a random subcohort (n=274). The primary exposures were VDI (25(OH)D₃<50 nmol/L) at birth and 6 months of age. Ambient UVR and time in the sun were combined to estimate UVR exposure dose. IgE-mediated food allergy status at 1 year was determined by formal challenge. Binomial regression was used to examine associations between VDI, UVR exposure dose and food allergy, and investigate potential confounding.

Results

Within the random subcohort VDI was present in 45% (105/233) of newborns and 24% (55/227) of infants at 6 months. Food allergy prevalence at 1 year was 7.7% (61/786) and 6.5% (53/808) were egg allergic. There was no evidence of an association between VDI at either birth (aRR 1.25, 95% CI 0.70-2.22) or 6 months (aRR 0.93, 95% CI 0.41-2.14) and food allergy at 1 year.

Conclusions

There was no evidence that VDI during the first 6 months of infancy is a risk factor for food allergy at 1 year of age. These findings primarily relate to egg allergy and larger studies are required.

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