Associations between grass pollen exposures in utero and in early life with food allergy in 12-month-old infants

ABSTRACT

Birth during pollen seasons may influence food allergy risk but no study has assessed pollen exposure. Using the HealthNuts population-based cohort of 5276 infants, we assessed grass pollen exposures, in utero and up to the first 6 months of life, on hen’s egg, sesame and peanut allergy outcomes at 12 months. Cumulative pollen exposure in the first 7 days of life increased risk of peanut sensitization aMOR (adjusted multinomial odds ratio) = 1.21 (95% CI: 1.01–1.44). Exposure between first 4–6 months of life increased risk of hen’s egg aMOR = 1.02 (95% CI: 1.004–1.04) and sensitization to all foods aMOR = 1.02 (95% CI: 1.003–1.04). Grass pollen exposure was associated with food challenge diagnosed food allergy, but only among infants with a maternal history of food allergy. Exposure to grass pollen in the intrauterine period and infancy may be important but more studies are needed to replicate these findings.

KEYWORDS:

• Grass pollen
• in utero
• food allergy
• sensitization

Acknowledgment

NHS is funded by La Trobe University and supported by the Indonesia Research Partnership on Infectious Diseases (INA-RESPOND).

Declaration of interest

A.-L. Ponsonby, A. J. Lowe and J Koplin receive grant support from the NHMRC. M. L. K. Tang received payments for lectures from Nestle Health Science and Abbot Nutrition; holds patents with Murdoch Children’s Research Institute; and receives royalties from Wiley. K. J. Allen is a member of the Medical Advisory Boards for Before Brands and Aravax. The rest of the authors declare that they have no relevant conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by funding from the National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia; Ilhan Food Allergy Foundation; AnaphylaxiStop; the Charles and Sylvia Viertel Medical Research Foundation; the Victorian Government’s Operational Infrastructure Support Program; and the NHMRC Centre for Food and Allergy Research. K.J.A., A.J.L., J.J.K., and S.C.D. hold NHMRC awards.