What do review papers conclude about food and dietary patterns? Relationship of diet in the development of atopy in infancy Improving autism perinatal risk factors: A systematic review. Validation of the global resource of eczema trials (GREAT database) Effect of combined maternal and infant food-allergen avoidance on development of atopy in early infancy: a randomized study. Maternal smoking during pregnancy and conduct problems in high-risk youth: a developmental framework. Effects of maternal diet during late pregnancy and lactation on the development of atopic diseases in infants up to 18 months of age—in‐vivo results Maternal dietary folate, folic acid and vitamin D intakes during pregnancy and lactation and the risk of cows' milk allergy in the offspring.
Nutrients and other bioactive constituents of foods may interact with each other and the surrounding food matrix in complex ways . Therefore , associations between single nutrients and chronic disease may be difficult to identify and interpret , but when dietary patterns ( DPs ) are examined the combination of many food factors will be considered . An explorative literature search of published review articles was conducted to obtain a fuller underst and ing of current DPs in epidemiological research , to discuss pros and cons of DPs in nutrition research , and to identify results of studies linking DPs to chronic disease risk in adults . R and omized feeding trials providing the experimental diets to study participants have repeatedly demonstrated that diets based on current dietary recommendations are associated with important health benefits . Systematic review s of feeding trials and prospect i ve population studies of DPs and chronic disease risk reach similar conclusions regardless of the methodology used to construct DPs . However , to date only a few review articles of DP studies have followed a systematic process using independent review ers with strict inclusion , exclusion , and study quality criteria . Diets with plenty of plants foods , fish , and seafood that preferably include vegetable oils and low-fat dairy products are associated with a lower risk of most chronic diseases . In contrast , Western-type DPs with food products low in essential nutrients and high in energy , like sugar-sweetened beverages , sweets , refined cereals and solid fats ( e.g. butter ) , and high in red and processed meats , are associated with adverse health effects . An emphasis on high- quality original research , and systematic review s following a structured process to objective ly select and judge studies , is needed in order to enforce a strong future knowledge base regarding DPs and chronic disease We examined the relationship of diet to the development of atopic manifestations in a group of infants with an immediate family history of atopy , followed prospect ively from birth for up to 20 months of age . There was no relationship between the development of atopic dermatitis , rhinitis and wheeze and either 2 or 4 months exclusive breast feeding , or the introduction of cow 's milk or solids in the first 4 months of life . In addition there was no relationship between the introduction of milk , egg or wheat into the diet and the development of skin‐test positivity to these foods . In fact , five infants developed positive skin tests to the food prior to its introduction into the diet , suggesting exposure via maternal breast milk . Thus we have been unable to show a protective effect of either breast feeding or cow 's milk or solid avoidance on the development of atopic disease in infancy BACKGROUND Current underst and ing of the etiology of autism is based on the interaction of multiple genes with each other and with environmental factors , leading to a neurodevelopmental process that results in the expression of autism spectrum disorder ( ASD ) in the child . This suggests that it might be possible to strengthen resilience to environmental stressors during the perinatal period to improve outcomes and possibly prevent the development of ASD . METHODS We search ed the MEDLINE data base for multiple perinatal factors associated with the development of ASD published between January 1 , 2005 and July 1 , 2018 . The search terms used were " autism " crossed with either " perinatal , " " prenatal , " " gestational , " or " pregnancy , " and crossed again with each perinatal risk factor highlighted in this review including topics on parental health , infections , medications , and environmental stressors . We then search ed interventions that may improve neurodevelopmental outcome before and during pregnancy , including supplements , breastfeeding , and postpartum stress reduction . We identified recent or unique metanalyses and systematic review s of the identified focus and on r and omized controlled trials and summarized these using the most recent and comprehensive review s. RESULTS Folate , omega-3 , vitamin D3 , environmental toxin avoidance , correcting deficiencies , immune boosting , and prolonged breast feeding are all reported to be linked to the possible reduction of adverse pregnancy outcomes including ASD . CONCLUSIONS Studies of individual components for improving pregnancy outcomes and several uncontrolled preconception to infancy medical practice s suggest that multiple interventions might improve the outcomes of pregnancies where there is risk for developing ASD Background Eczema ( syn . Atopic Eczema or Atopic Dermatitis ) is a chronic , relapsing , itchy skin condition which probably results from a combination of genetic and environmental factors . The Global Re source of EczemA Trials ( GREAT ) is a collection of records of r and omised controlled trials ( RCTs ) for eczema treatment produced from a highly sensitive search of six reference data bases . We sought to assess the sensitivity of the GREAT data base as a tool to save future research ers repeating extensive bibliographic search es . Methods All Cochrane systematic review on treatments for eczema and five non-Cochrane systematic review s on eczema were identified as a reference set to assess the utility of the GREAT data base in identifying r and omised controlled trials ( RCTs ) . RCTs included in the systematic review s were checked for inclusion in the GREAT data base by two independent authors . A third author resolved any disagreements . Results Five Cochrane and six non-Cochrane systematic review s containing a total of 105 RCTs of eczema treatments were included . Of these , 95 fitted the inclusion criteria for the GREAT data base and 88 were published from 2000 onwards . Of the 88 eligible studies , 92 % were found in the GREAT data base . Seven trials were not included in the GREAT data base - two of these were reported within a review paper and one as an abstract with no trial results . Conclusions The sensitivity of the GREAT data base for trials from 2000 onwards was high ( 75/88 trials , 94 % ) . Sensitivity for the period prior to 2000 was less sensitive , due to differences in how the trials were identified prior to this time.‘Dual ’ filtering for new records has recently become part of the GREAT data base methodology and should further improve the sensitivity of the data base in time . The GREAT data base can be considered as a primary source for future systematic review s including r and omised controlled trials of eczema treatments , but search es should be supplemented by checking reference lists for eligible trials , search ing trial registries and contacting pharmaceutical companies for unpublished studies The effect of maternal and infant avoidance of allergenic foods on food allergy was examined in a prenatally r and omized , controlled trial of infants of atopic parents . The diet of the prophylactic-treated group ( N = 103 ) included ( 1 ) maternal avoidance of cow 's milk , egg , and peanut during the third trimester of pregnancy and lactation and ( 2 ) infant use of casein hydrolysate ( Nutramigen ) for supplementation or weaning , and avoidance of solid foods for 6 months ; cow 's milk , corn , soy , citrus , and wheat , for 12 months ; and egg , peanut , and fish , for 24 months . In the control group ( N = 185 ) , mothers had unrestricted diets , and infants followed American Academy of Pediatrics feeding guidelines . The cumulative prevalence of atopy was lower at 12 months in the prophylactic-treated ( 16.2 % ) compared to the control ( 27.1 % ) group ( p = 0.039 ) , result ing from reduced food-associated atopic dermatitis , urticaria and /or gastrointestinal disease by 12 months ( 5.1 % versus 16.4 % ; p = 0.007 ) , and any positive food skin test by 24 months ( 16.5 % versus 29.4 % ; p = 0.019 ) , caused primarily by fewer positive milk skin tests ( 1 % versus 12.4 % ; p = 0.001 ) . The prevalences of allergic rhinitis , asthma , and inhalant skin tests were unaffected . Serum IgE levels in the prophylactic-treated group were marginally lower only at 4 months . Thus , reduced exposure of infants to allergenic foods appeared to reduce food sensitization and allergy primarily during the first year of life Smoking during pregnancy is associated with adverse consequences for children . Most recently , it has been established as a risk factor for developmental psychopathology , specifically Conduct Disorder ( CD ) . Although this association has been shown to be robust , developmental pathways from exposure to CD have not been established . We examined how prenatal exposure to cigarettes interacts with child and family factors to increase risk of CD symptoms in a longitudinal study of 10-year-old urban , African-American youth ( N = 77 ) . The effects of prenatal exposure at school age were moderated by child sex . Boys whose mothers smoked during pregnancy were significantly more likely to develop CD symptoms , but exposure did not increase risk in girls . A similar trend was found during infancy : prenatal smoking was associated with low sociability/negative emotionality only for boys . The effects of smoking during pregnancy were also moderated by the quality of the early caregiving environment . Exposed boys whose mothers were unresponsive during infancy were at increased risk of CD symptoms , but exposed boys with early responsive mothers were not . Prospect i ve studies , with developmentally based measures of behavior across time , are critical for further elucidating pathways from prenatal exposure to cigarettes to the development of clinical disorder . The identification of a potentially modifiable , prenatal risk factor for early onset developmental psychopathology has important implication s for prevention One hundred and sixty‐two women with respiratory allergy to animal d and ers and /or pollens were r and omly allocated to a diet consisting of either a very low ingestion of hens ' egg and cows ' milk or a daily ingestion of one hens ' egg and about 11 of cows ' milk during the last 3 months of pregnancy .  One hundred and sixty‐three infants were followed prospect ively up to 18 months of age when the cumulated incidence of atopic disease in each child was evaluated blindly . No significant differences in the distribution of atopic disease were found among the infants in relation to the maternal diet during late pregnancy . The numbers of skin‐prick tests positive to ovalbumin , ovomucoid , β‐lactoglobulin and cows ' milk were likewise not influenced by differences in the maternal diet during late pregnancy . Genetic factors rather than maternal diet during the perinatal period probably have a greater effect on the incidence of atopic diseases during early infancy Maternal nutrient intake during pregnancy and lactation potentially influences the development of allergic diseases . Cows ' milk allergy ( CMA ) is often the first manifestation of atopic diseases , but the impact of early nutritional influences on CMA has not been explored . The associations between maternal intakes of folate , folic acid and vitamin D during pregnancy and lactation were addressed in a prospect i ve , population -based birth cohort within the Finnish Type 1 Diabetes Prediction and Prevention Study . Mothers of 4921 children during pregnancy and 2940 children during lactation provided information on maternal dietary intake during the 8th month of pregnancy and the 3rd month of lactation using a detailed , vali date d FFQ . Information on diagnosed CMA in the offspring was obtained from a medical registry as well as queried from the parents . The Finnish food composition data base was used to calculate nutrient intake . Logistic regression was applied for statistical analyses .  Folate intake and folic acid and vitamin D supplement  use were associated with an increased risk of CMA in the offspring , whereas vitamin D intake from foods during pregnancy was associated with a decreased risk of CMA . Thus , maternal nutrient intake during pregnancy and lactation may affect the development of CMA in offspring . Supplementation with folic acid may not be beneficial in terms of CMA development , especially in children of allergic mothers . The association between dietary supplement use and CMA risk can at least partly be explained by increased health-seeking behaviour among more educated mothers who also use more dietary supplements
Based on the existing information , it is not possible to establish the role of antioxidants and vitamin D supplementation in atopic disease development .
There is no evidence of major effects of prenatal use of folic acid on asthma or allergies .
The association of some nutritional interventions with less atopic sensitization seems rather speculative even if such an effect has not been found for some other foods .
The findings indicate rather a balanced and diverse diet without restrictions than a special dietary protocol .
Farming-related exposures may protect against the development of atopic disorders in children .
Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and probiotics seem to be promising c and i date s for allergy prevention .
The paper refers to the recently published empirical data and systematic review s on the impact of diets , foods , nutrients and bioactive substance exposures in pregnancy and in early infancy , on the development of atopic disorders .