Early-life supplementation of vitamins A and D, in water-soluble form or in peanut oil, and allergic diseases during childhood
Received 28 April 2006; received in revised form 11 August 2006; accepted 15 August 2006. published online 11 October 2006.
Background
Early vitamin supplementation is given routinely to infants in many countries, but it is unclear whether this affects the risk of allergic diseases.
Objectives
We sought to study the association between early-life supplementation of vitamins A and D in water-soluble form or in peanut oil and allergic diseases up to 4 years of age.
Methods
A prospective birth cohort of 4089 newborn infants was followed for 4 years using parental questionnaires repeatedly to collect information on exposure and health. At 4 years, the response rate was 90%, and allergen-specific IgE levels to food and airborne allergens were measured in 2614 of the participating children.
Results
Vitamins A and D were given to 98% of the children in infancy, and vitamins based in peanut oil dominated (90%). Children supplemented with vitamins A and D in water-soluble form during the first year of life had an almost 2-fold increased risk of asthma (adjusted odds ratio [OD], 2.18; 95% CI, 1.45-3.28), food hypersensitivity (adjusted OR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.33-2.65), and sensitization to common food and airborne allergens (adjusted OR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.34-2.64) at age 4 years compared with those receiving vitamins in peanut oil. No increased risk of IgE antibodies to peanut was seen in children receiving vitamins in peanut oil.
Conclusion
Supplementation of vitamins A and D in water-soluble form seems to increase the risk of allergic disease up to the age of 4 years compared with supplementation with the same vitamins given in peanut oil.
Clinical implications
Vitamins A and D in oil does not seem to increase the risk of allergic disease during childhood.
aFrom the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Stockholm County Council
bNational Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet
cSachs' Children's Hospital, Institute of Södersjukhuset, Karolinska Institutet
dCentre for Allergy Research, Karolinska Institutet
eClinical Immunology and Allergy Unit, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet and University Hospital
Reprint requests: Inger Kull, RN, PhD, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Norrbacka, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden.
Supported by the Swedish Asthma and Allergy Association, The Vardal Foundation for Health Care Sciences and Allergy Research, the Swedish Heart and Lung Foundation, and the Stockholm County Council.
Disclosure of potential conflict of interest: The authors have declared that they have no conflict of interest.
ABSTRACT