Korean J Community Nutr.  2005 Jun;10(3):264-270.

Sensitization of Food Allergen in Breastfed Infant with Atopic Dermatitis

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
  • 2Samsung Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul, Korea.
  • 3Department of Food and Nutrition, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

Breastfeeding has been known as the best feeding practice to prevent allergies including atopic dermatitis (AD). However, the benefit on the prevention of allergic disease is still controversial. The objectives of this study were to examine the rate of sensitization to the protein of eggs, cow's milk and soy in exclusively breastfed infants and to evaluate antigen-antibody reaction between breast milk and serum of AD infant. Data on feeding and food hypersensitivity were obtained for 62 AD infants (32 male, 30 female) aged < 6 month who had visited Samsung Medical Center from September 2001 to May 2003. Food hypersensitivity was determined by measuring specific IgE to egg, cow's milk and soy. Specific IgE levels > 0.7 kU/L by CAP assay (Pharmacia, Uppsala, Sweden) were considered positive. The rates of sensitization in breastfed infants were 41.9% (26/62) to egg, 30.6% (19/62) to milk and 18.0% (11/62) to soy. Immunoblotting analyses were performed using breast milk with the matched serum of seven AD infants (4 male/3 female). Binding patterns of AD infant's IgE to breast milk extract showed visible specific band for immunoglobulin, especially in case of a lactating mother who did not completely restricted ingestion of egg, milk and soy. These results indicate that sensitization to food allergen develops via breast milk feeding. Breast milk feeding should be recommended in infants at risk of developing allergic disease, but maternal intake of highly allergenic food might be restricted for prevention and treatment of food allergy among the babies with AD.

Keyword

atopic dermatitis; breast milk; food allergen

MeSH Terms

Antigen-Antibody Reactions
Breast Feeding
Dermatitis, Atopic*
Eating
Eggs
Food Hypersensitivity
Humans
Hypersensitivity
Immunoblotting
Immunoglobulin E
Immunoglobulins
Infant*
Male
Milk
Milk, Human
Mothers
Ovum
Immunoglobulin E
Immunoglobulins
Full Text Links
  • KJCN
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr