Association of food allergy in children with vitamin D insufficiency: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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#infant #child #humans #infant-newborn #child-preschool

Association of food allergy in children with vitamin D insufficiency: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Psaroulaki et al., 2023 | Eur J Pediatr | Meta Analysis

Citation

Psaroulaki Evdokia, Katsaras Georgios N, ... Tsitsani Pelagia. Association of food allergy in children with vitamin D insufficiency: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Pediatr. 2023-Apr;182(4):1533-1554. doi:10.1007/s00431-023-04843-2

Abstract

Current literature regarding the association of vitamin D insufficiency and food allergy is contradicting. The purpose of our study was to investigate this association. This is a systematic review and meta-analysis according to the PRISMA statement. PubMeD and Scopus databases were systematically searched for case-control studies investigating the association between pediatric food allergy and vitamin D insufficiency. Our search yielded 806 studies. Ten final studies were considered eligible for qualitative and quantitative analysis. Children with vitamin D insufficiency were found to have 68% more probability to present a food allergy episode (adjusted pooled OR: 1.68, 95% CI [1.25-2.27], p-value: 0.001). In their second year of life they were 4 times more likely to present a food allergy episode (adjusted pooled OR: 4.06, 95% CI [1.93-8.56], p-value: < 0.001), and 56% more probable to develop food sensitization (OR: 1.56, 95% CI [1.15-2.11], p-value: < 0.004). Children in Australia with vitamin D insufficiency were almost 4 times more likely to develop egg sensitization (adjusted OR: 3.79, 95% CI [1.19-12.08], p-value: 0.024). Children with vitamin D insufficiency were almost twice as likely to have peanut sensitization (OR: 1.96, 95% CI [1.08-3.57], p-value: 0.028).  Conclusion: Decreased maternal vitamin D levels and infant vitamin D insufficiency appear to increase the incidence of food allergies, particularly in the second year of life. To confirm this association, multicenter longitudinal studies are required. What is Known: • In newborns and young children, vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are prevalent. • The exact role of vitamin D in atopic diseases remains controversial. What is New: • Decreased maternal vitamin D levels and infant vitamin D insufficiency appear to increase the incidence of food allergies. This association is more evident in the second year of life.

Key Findings

Decreased maternal vitamin D levels and infant vitamin D insufficiency appear to increase the incidence of food allergies, particularly in the second year of life. To confirm this association, multicenter longitudinal studies are required. What is Known: • In newborns and young children, vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are prevalent. • The exact role of vitamin D in atopic diseases remains controversial. What is New: • Decreased maternal vitamin D levels and infant vitamin D insufficiency

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size 806
Age Range See abstract
Condition deficiency

MeSH Terms

  • Infant
  • Child
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Child, Preschool
  • Vitamin D
  • Food Hypersensitivity
  • Vitamin D Deficiency
  • Vitamins
  • Allergens
  • Multicenter Studies as Topic

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Meta-Analysis, Systematic Review, Journal Article
  • Vertical: vitamin-d

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09