Scientists have linked the monotonous diet of infants with the risk of dermatitis

Children who received products from fewer food groups by the first year of life were more likely to experience atopic dermatitis later. South Korean scientists came to this conclusion after studying the data of almost 268 thousand children. How the diversity of the diet was assessed and what the discovered connection means is in the "Izvestia" material.

How children's nutrition was studied

Researchers led by Kim Joo-hee, a specialist at Gyeonggi University in Seoul, analyzed data from South Korea's national health insurance system. The work includes information about 267,935 children born in 2009-2010. The scientists assessed the products from how many food groups were included in their diet by the age of 12 months, and then compared this indicator with the subsequent detection of atopic dermatitis.

In total, the researchers took into account six food groups. If a child received products from zero to two groups, the diversity was considered low, moderate from three to four, and high from five to six. 7.6% of children were assigned to the first group, 35.5% to the second, and 56.8% to the third. At the same time, the study did not estimate the number of individual dishes and did not allow to determine which foods could be associated with the risk of the disease.

Children who had atopic dermatitis were excluded from the analysis before the assessment of the diet. So scientists tried to reduce the likelihood of feedback: the appearance of skin symptoms could prompt parents to limit the range of products. The calculations also took into account other factors, including the presence of allergic diseases in the mother.

What the study showed

Compared with children who received products from five to six food groups, the adjusted risk of atopic dermatitis was 8% higher with low dietary diversity and 11% higher with moderate. These figures describe the relative difference between the groups, rather than the likelihood of illness for a particular child.

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At the same time, the study did not show a consistent increase in risk as the number of food groups decreased: the indicator in the group with moderate diversity was slightly higher than in the group with low. The authors did not identify any significant differences in the relationship found depending on the sex of the child or the presence of asthma or atopic dermatitis in the mother.

Cases of the disease were determined based on medical data. This required at least two treatment sessions with a diagnosis of "atopic dermatitis" and two prescriptions for external corticosteroids. This approach allowed the researchers to rely on treatment records, not just the memories of parents.

Is it possible to change the risk with nutrition

The authors found a link between a variety of foods in the diet in the first year of life and the subsequent risk of atopic dermatitis. However, an observational study does not prove that a change in diet alone will prevent the disease: both indicators may be influenced by other circumstances. To confirm the results, scientists consider further research necessary.

Therefore, the data obtained cannot yet be turned into a universal nutrition scheme for all children. If the child has already had reactions to food, the introduction of new products should be discussed with the pediatrician, taking into account his condition.