Diet diversity and food allergy

Abstract

Diet diversity is defined as the number of foods or food groups consumed over a given reference period. The concept of diet diversity has its origin in studying the diets of children, adults and households by using a simple checklist of foods to define overall dietary intake. Diet diversity has been used to define dietary intake in infants and pregnant women to study allergy outcomes. Diet diversity in infancy has been associated with reduced food allergy outcomes in childhood. From the available studies, it appears that a more diverse diet in infants and pregnant women is associated with reduced food allergy outcomes in childhood. There is currently only one study investigating the role of maternal diet diversity in pregnancy and offspring allergy outcomes. The study indicates that maternal healthy diet diversity is associated with reduced offspring allergies by four years and that maternal unhealthy diet diversity was associated with increased offspring atopic dermatitis. Total diet diversity in pregnancy was not associated with offspring allergy outcomes. The mechanisms through which diet diversity may reduce food allergy outcomes include an indirect effect on the gut microbiome, increased nutrient intake that may have an immunomodulatory effect and increased food allergen intake.