<Original>Relationship between allergic History of 3-year-old children and their nutrition in infancy

Although breast milk has been recommended by WHO, there is controversy on its preventive effect against childhood allergy. We investigated the relationship between allergic history of children and their nutrition in infancy with special regard to their family history within the second relatives. The subjects were participants of health examination program for 3-year-old children held during April 1996 and March 1997 in a city of Fukui Prefecture, Japan. Questionnaires were delivered to parents of all children registered in the city (622 in total) by mail and collected from 582 children (94%) on the days of health examination. Personal and family history of allergy (diagnosed by medical doctors as atopic dermatitis, asthma, allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis or urticaria) and nutrition in infancy (breast milk only, formula, or mixed feeding during first month and solid food introduced time after birth) were asked. In total, 201 children (35%) had allergic history and family history was a significant risk factor (odds ratio: 3.91, 95%C.I. 2.68-5.71). Of 518 children from whom effective answers were obtained on nutrition in infancy, 235 children (45%) were fed by breast milk only during first month and 416 children (80%) were fed with solid foods after fifth month and later. For formula-fed or mixed-fed children, early introduction of solid foods was a significant risk factor (odds ratio of no later than fourth month versus after fifth month and later: 2.05, 95% CI: 1.06-3.98). Furthermore, for children with family history, breast feeding was a significant reducing factor of allergy even though solid foods were introduced early after birth (odds ratio of breast fed to formula-fed and mixed-fed: 0.316, 95% CI: 0.115-0.871). Thus, our results indicate that breast feeding could be effective in preventing at least high-risk children who have family history and to whom weaning foods are introduced early