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Publication #FAR0422

 

Maternal Diet and Infant Allergy Development1

Stephanie Fulger and Donna Davis2

Figure 1. 
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A good cold glass of milk and a yummy peanut butter and jelly sandwich were staples in my children’s diets. According to current research, more than 11 million Americans may not be able to enjoy such simple pleasures as they suffer from food allergies. However, food allergies may be preventable, at least in some cases.

In a food allergy, a specific food triggers an allergic response. Food allergies affect 8% of children today, and the most common food allergens are cow’s milk, eggs, shellfish, nuts, wheat, and soy (Nemours, 2005). By avoiding these foods during pregnancy, expectant mothers can decrease the risk of their infants developing allergies to them. This is especially true if one or both of the parents suffer from allergies (AAP 2003).

Breastfeeding women are also advised to reduce food allergens in their diets, especially if allergies are present in their families. Breast milk itself is actually beneficial in the prevention of allergy development. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “components of breastmilk enhance natural defenses and promote immunoregulation.” They encourage mothers to exclusively breastfeed high-risk infants for longer than the normally recommended six months (AAP, 2003).

A pregnant or lactating woman should always consult with a registered dietitian and her doctor to make certain that she is getting the right amount of calories and nutrients in her diet. Supplements may be prescribed when altering the diet to prevent allergies (AAP, 2003).

Listening, learning and living together, it’s the science of life. “Family Album” is a co-production of University of Florida IFAS Extension, the Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, and of WUFT-FM. If you’d like to learn more, please visit our website at http://familyalbumradio.org.

To listen to the radio broadcast:

http://radiosource.net/radio_stories/387.mp3

http://radiosource.net/radio_stories/387.wav

References

Nemours Foundation (2005, June). All About Allergies. Nov. 6, 2005 http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/allergies/allergy.html.

NIAID: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (2003, June). Current Trends in Allergic Reactions: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Patient Management. Nov. 6, 2005 http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/about/organization/dait/PDF/Allergic_Reactions.pdf.

Footnotes

1.

This document is FAR0422, one of a series of the Family Youth and Community Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Broadcast as program 387 in January 2007. Published on EDIS August 2012. In the interest of time and/or clarity, the broadcast version of this script may have been modified. Visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2.

Stephanie Fulger, student, and Donna Davis, senior producer, Family Album Radio, Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Nick T. Place, Dean.