2 studies presented at the annual meeting
of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology argue pretty
persuasively, I think, that when moms (meaning parents, of course) set out to
“prevent” allergies in their infants by restricting their own (the mom’s)
intake of allergenic foods, it might make matters worse for the infant rather
than better.
Two studies that looked at moms who
restricted their own intake of foods that they considered might pose a problem
to their kids (nuts, shellfish, eggs, seeds, legumes, and dairy products) found
no benefit, that is no lower rate of allergy in the toddlers, and indeed, one
study showed that that kind of restriction might even raise a toddler’s risk of
developing a food allergy.
Bottom line: we have no idea if specific
food restriction in a pregnant woman or a nursing mom has any benefit in
lowering the subsequent risk of allergy in their children.
I’m sure, however, that millions of North
American prospective parents, reared on the strong belief that it’s always
better to do something than nothing, will continue to follow dietary
restrictions until the evidence is overwhelmingly convincing that they are
following the wrong path.
