Mediterranean Diet During Pregnancy Linked to Lower Food Allergies in Children

A Greek study connects Mediterranean-style food during pregnancy and breastfeeding wiht a lower incidence of food allergies in children, highlighting the significant impact of maternal food on the formation of early immune health.

Study: Adherence to the Mediterranean diet during pregnancy,breastfeeding and the progress of a food allergy in offspring: results of the medallion cohort study. T.vyc / Shutterstock

A recent study published in the journal Allergies evaluated associations between a mother’s adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) during pregnancy and lactation and the development of a food allergy (FA) in their child. The results indicated a reduced risk for food allergies in children whose mothers followed the MedDiet during both pregnancy and breastfeeding (adjusted odds ratio 0.94, 95% CI 0.89 to 1.00; 0.88-1.00).

Food allergies have become an increasing public health concern in recent decades, and prevention is considered a promising strategy to reduce the burden of these allergies. IgE-mediated food allergies are the most common, affecting 8% to 10% of children in Western countries. However, prevalence rates vary significantly in developing countries.

Urban areas in China have rates similar to those in the West, while rural regions in Africa and Asia have significantly lower prevalence rates. This suggests that factors like diet, age, and the environment influence the development of food allergies. Maternal diet during pregnancy and lactation has received considerable attention in this context, given its influence on the developing fetal immune system.

About the Study

This study evaluated the effects of the MedDiet during pregnancy and lactation on the development of food allergies in early life.The Prevention of Mediterranean Allergies (MedAllion) study was a large retrospective cohort study that followed mothers from six regions in Greece: Athens, Alexandroupoli, Crete, Ioannina, Peloponnese, and Thessaloniki. Mothers of infants with food allergies and mothers of healthy children were enrolled.

After enrollment, researchers collected details on demographics, parental history, and dietary habits through interviews.