Nutritional Status in Children With Food Allergy: Evaluation of a New Supplement

Overview

Allergic diseases are rising globally. By 2025, over half of the European population is projected to be affected by some form of allergy, with the highest rates among infants and young children. This growing prevalence also has a significant economic impact, resulting in more than 100 million lost work and school days each year due to allergic conditions. Allergies arise from a breakdown in immune tolerance mechanisms. Current research suggests that the development is influenced by genetic, environmental, and gene-environment interactions, leading to immune system dysfunction, partly mediated by epigenetic mechanisms. Various factors have been proposed as contributors to FA onset. Among the unchangeable risk factors are male sex, race/ethnicity (with higher risks among Asian and Black children compared to White children), and genetics (familial associations, HLA, and specific genes). Modifiable risk factors also play a role, with growing evidence showing that environmental influences, such as the use of antibiotics, antiseptic agents, and a high-fat, low-fiber diet, negatively affect microbiome composition. Additional risk factors potentially affecting FA onset include atopic diseases (such as comorbid atopic dermatitis), increased hygiene, vitamin D deficiency, reduced consumption of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants, the use of antacids (which hinder the digestion of allergens), obesity, and the timing and route of food exposure (increased risk with delayed oral ingestion of allergens coupled with environmental exposure). The microbiome also plays a critical role in these processes. Currently, no Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatment exists for FA, and the standard approach is strict dietary avoidance of the triggering allergens. As a result, the nutritional burden of elimination diets can be substantial, leading to risks such as growth failure, micronutrient deficiencies, and feeding challenges with long-term consequences.