Food allergy prevention in children: An overview

The increasing prevalence of food allergies in developed and developing countries has raised many questions about that in scientific societies. This prevalence made researchers eager to understand the steps taken to prevent food allergies in children. Children's food allergies are often thought to be the result of exposure to allergens during pregnancy, lactation, and nutrient deficiencies such as vitamin D. in this review, we collected and reviewed new studies about nutritional strategies to prevent food allergies in children. Studies have shown that eliminating food from the mother's diet during pregnancy and lactation is not recommended. Also, despite the many benefits of exclusive breastfeeding for infancy, there is still limited evidence to support food allergy prevention with breastfeeding. Introducing solid foods at 4-6 months of age may reduce the risk of developing allergies in children; therefore, it is not suggested to delay the introduction of food. Also, introducing peanuts and boiled eggs earlier than 12 months of age can reduce the risk of some allergies. There is little evidence to support using a hydrolyzed formula and vitamin D supplement to prevent food allergies. Nutritional interventions to prevent food allergies still have many ambiguous questions; however, it can be said that avoidance of allergenic foods is not suggested, and exposure to foods can induce tolerance.