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Pregnancy & Child Health News |
Staff Reporter |
September 18, 2006
Introducing baby to solid foods too early
increases risk of allergic diseases
(Dubai Health & News) Feeding solid foods to infants before 6
months of age can increase the risk of allergies, while exclusive
breastfeeding for at least 6 months may prevent the onset of allergic
symptoms later in life, according to a paper published in the Annals of
Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the official journal of the American
College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI). The paper is the
first consensus document published in a peer-reviewed journal to
recommend allergy-avoiding strategies for introducing solid foods to the
infant diet.
"This report reinforces the consensus of organizations such as the
American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization, which
recommend exclusive breastfeeding for at least six months as optimal for
infant and maternal health," said lead author Alessandro Fiocchi,
M.D., University of Milan Medical School, Milan, Italy. Dr. Fiocchi is
chair of the Adverse Reactions to Foods Committee of the American
College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), which prepared the
consensus document.
Specific recommendations of the committee include:
 Exclusive
breastfeeding (with no cow's milk formulas or any supplemental food) is
indicated during the first six months of life because it has a
preventive effect against the onset of allergic symptoms that extends
far beyond the period of breastfeeding.
Supplemental
foods should not be introduced during the first four months of life, as
it is associated with a higher risk of allergic diseases up to the age
of 10 years.
The
avoidance of cow's milk in the early months of life has been shown to be
an effective means of preventing allergies. "We concluded that
delayed exposure to solid foods should be similarly useful in preventing
food allergies," said co-author Amal Assa'ad, M.D., Cincinnati
Children's Hospital Medical Center, Ohio.
The main
foods that pose a high allergy risk include cow's milk, eggs, peanuts,
tree nuts (such as hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews, almonds, chestnuts,
macadamias and pistachios), fish and other seafood. "Other foods -
even staples such as fruits, vegetables, meats, soy and cereals - also
have the potential to cause allergies if introduced too early,"
said co-author Sami L. Bahna, M.D., PhD., Louisiana State University
School of Medicine, Shreveport. The authors noted that it seems
"reasonable that foods should be introduced selectively,
individually and gradually" to lessen the risk of allergy.
Mixed
foods containing a variety of potential food allergens should not be
given to infants until tolerance to every ingredient has been evaluated
individually.
Cooked,
homogenized foods are preferred to their fresh counterparts when a
reduced potential for causing allergies has been clinically
demonstrated, such as in the cases of beef, vegetables and fruit.
"The timing after age 6 months at which specific foods should be
introduced depends on a number of factors, including the individual
infant's nutritional needs and risk for allergies," Dr. Fiocchi
said. It is generally considered prudent not to introduce hen's eggs,
fish, peanuts and nuts before the age of 12 months, or later in infants
at high risk of allergy, the authors said.
The committee reached its consensus based on an evidence-based review of
published research related to food allergies in infants.
Note: The above information is intended to supplement, not substitute
for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist, or other
healthcare professional. It is not intended to diagnose a health
condition, but it can be used as a guide to help you decide if you
should seek professional treatment or to help you learn more about your
condition once it has been diagnosed.
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