Food allergy (FA) is a significant public health problem with symptoms ranging from mild urticaria up to severe anaphylaxis. The frequency of food allergy has been rising in the last decades particularly in children where nutritional compromise can ensue together with possible development of other allergic diseases. With the developing technology and knowledge, there has been improvement in the treatment of FA. Diet is a very important factor in the management and changes in the diet of both the child and mother affect the risk of developing food allergies. Consumption of some nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, folic acid may be beneficial in preventing FA. The mechanisms proposed are mainly related to their effects on regulating the immune system. Regulatory changes in the intestinal flora, such as dietary consumption and probiotic use, are also on the agenda and show promising results approaches. Although, it has been advised to remove the allergenic food from the diet, yet recently, it has been shown that processing of allergenic foods and early consumption of allergenic foods between 4th -6th months can cause food tolerance in infants. This review aims to provide updates on the effect of adding some nutrients and dietetic changes on the management of FA.
Background: Both bronchial asthma and food allergy are comorbidities of increasing prevalence and growing concern worldwide. Objectives: We sought to detect the prevalence of food allergy in children with bronchial asthma, the effect of food elimination and probiotic supplementation on the clinical outcome of asthma and the quality of life (QOL). Methods: This randomized controlled trial included 226 children aged from 4 to 18, suffering from bronchial asthma, 88 of whom had associated food allergy. Patients who suffered food allergy as diagnosed by history, prick to prick test food elimination and oral food challenge test, were randomly divided into four groups, each comprised 22 children. Group (1): received pharmacological treatment only, group (2): received pharmacological treatment and probiotic supplementation, group (3): practiced food elimination and received pharmacotherapy, and Group (4): practiced food elimination and received probiotic supplementation and pharmacological therapy. For patients in all groups, grading of asthma severity, measurement of total IgE and Pediatric Asthma quality of life questionnaire (PAQLQ) were performed before and after 6 months at the end of the study. Results: There were significant statistical improvements in the severity of asthma, total serum IgE level and QOL for all groups before and after the intervention. The best outcome was achieved in children who practiced avoidance of food allergen(s) and took probiotic supplementation in addition to the pharmacological therapy (p <0.001). Conclusion: Diagnosis of food allergy in asthmatic children is mandatory and combining pharmacological therapy, avoidance of the offended food allergen and intake of probiotics are encouraged.
BackgroundBackground: Data regarding food sensitization and food allergy in developing countries are lacking. We sought to explore the frequency and pattern of sensitization to food allergens among a sample of Egyptian allergic patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 1373 allergic patients. They were subjected to thorough history taking, skin prick test and measurement of serum specific IgE (sIgE) level. Patients with evidence of sensitization to food were subjected to food elimination followed by an open oral food challenge (OFC) test. Results: Four hundred and nineteen patients (30.5%) (76 children and 343 adults) had evidence of sensitization to one or more food allergen. Among children, 41 (52.5%) had urticaria, 31 (39.7%) allergic rhinitis, 13 (16.6%) pollen food allergy syndrome, 16 (20.5%) bronchial asthma, 9 (11.5%) eczema and 7 (9%) had GIT symptoms. Among adults, 152 (44.5%) had allergic rhinitis, 149 (43.6%) urticaria and 57 (16.7%) had GIT symptoms. The most common allergens among children were peanut (31; 39.7%), fish (29; 37%), egg (18; 23%), and strawberry (17; 21.79%) while in adult, they were jalapeno pepper (123; 36%), egg (122; 35.7%), tomato (120; 35.1%), peanut (110; 32.2%), and fish (109; 31.9%). Significant associations were found between sensitization to different types of foods including associations between citrus fruits and mango, and between shrimps and crabs (p < 0.001). Out of the sensitized 419 patients, 118 (28.2%) had positive OFC test. Conclusion: A significant proportion of both adults and children with allergic disorders are sensitized to foods. Pepper, peanut, egg, fish, tomato, strawberry are the most common foods to which Egyptian patients are sensitized.
Background: Vaccination is a very effective method of stimulating the immune response against infections. Adjuvants are employed to enhance the immune response, but they must be safe, inexpensive, and easy to use. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate gold nanoparticles as immune enhancers for rift valley fever vaccine. Methods: The rats were divided into four groups (10 each): the negative control group, rats immunized with nonadjuvanted rift valley fever vaccine and the last two rat groups immunized with rift valley fever vaccine combined with 40 μM of spherical gold nanoparticles and combined with 40 μM of rod-shaped gold nanoparticles, respectively. Results: Compared with rats receiving no treatment and rats treated with nonadjuvanted vaccine, rats treated with vaccines combined with gold nanoparticles exhibited toxic biochemical, histological and immunohistochemical changes, as shown by significant elevations in liver enzymatic markers and total bilirubin. The magnitude of the biochemical changes was dependent on the shape of the gold nanoparticles: the elevations in liver enzymatic markers and total bilirubin were greater in the group treated with spherical gold nanoparticles than in the group treated with rod-shaped gold nanoparticles. Conclusion: It can be concluded that gold nanoparticles are promising vaccine cellular and humoral immune enhancers/adjuvants via different cytokine pathways.