The potential effect of dietary changes on the management of food allergies

Food allergy (FA) is a significant public health problem with symptoms ranging from mild urticaria up to severe anaphylaxis. The frequency of food allergy has been rising in the last decades particularly in children where nutritional compromise can ensue together with possible development of other allergic diseases. With the developing technology and knowledge, there has been improvement in the treatment of FA. Diet is a very important factor in the management and changes in the diet of both the child and mother affect the risk of developing food allergies. Consumption of some nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, folic acid may be beneficial in preventing FA. The mechanisms proposed are mainly related to their effects on regulating the immune system. Regulatory changes in the intestinal flora, such as dietary consumption and probiotic use, are also on the agenda and show promising results approaches. Although, it has been advised to remove the allergenic food from the diet, yet recently, it has been shown that processing of allergenic foods and early consumption of allergenic foods between 4th -6th months can cause food tolerance in infants. This review aims to provide updates on the effect of adding some nutrients and dietetic changes on the management of FA

Evaluation of Added Sugar and Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption by University Students

Today, increased intake of sugar and sugar-sweetened beverages is seen today as an important factor in the growing prevalence of chronic diseases, such as obesity, obesity-related diabetes, and coronary heart diseases. This study involved 214 university students from the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics of Ankara University, Faculty of Health Science, which was intended to evaluate the consumption of sugar and sugar-sweetened beverages. The frequency of student consumption of beverages and the quantities and amounts of sugar taken with beverages were questioned. The average total amount of sugar added to drinks by the students was 4.69 ± 6.35 gram, while the average total amount of sugar taken with sugar-sweetened beverages was 11.34 ± 15.32 gram. Female students relative to male students, students in grade 4 compared to grades 2 and 3, and students who had daily breakfast compared to those who did not had lower average sugar consumption (p-value 0.05). It is important to educate university students about the reduction in sugar intake and sugar-containing food in order to avoid many chronic diseases that may be seen in older ages

Physical Growth of Patients with Hereditary Tyrosinaemia Type I: A Single-Centre Retrospective Study

In a retrospective review, we aimed to assess long-term growth in 17 patients (n = 11 males) with hereditary tyrosinaemia type I (HTI). Median age at assessment was 15.6 years (5.7-26.6 years) and median age at diagnosis was 1 month (range: 0-16 months), with 35% (n = 6/17) symptomatic on presentation. From the age of 8 years, there was a noticeable change in median height, weight, and body-mass-index [BMI]-z-scores. Median height-for-age z-scores were consistently ≤ -1 (IQR -1.6, -0.5) during the first 8 years of life but increased with age. Weight-for-age z-scores ranged between -1 to 0 (IQR -1.2, 0.1) in the first 8 years; then increased to > 0.5 (IQR -0.3, 1.3) by age 16 years, and BMI-for-age z-scores ranged from 0 to 1 (IQR -0.7, 1.3) up to 8 years, and >1 (IQR -0.2, 1.9) until 16 years. The percentage of overweight and obesity was lowest in children aged 40% in patients aged between 7 to 16 years. The prescribed total protein intake was associated with improved height growth (p < 0.01). Impaired growth in early life improved with age achieving normal population standards. Further studies are needed to investigate factors that influence growth outcome in HTI patients

Physical Growth of Patients with Hereditary Tyrosinaemia Type I: A Single-Centre Retrospective Study

In a retrospective review, we aimed to assess long-term growth in 17 patients (n = 11 males) with hereditary tyrosinaemia type I (HTI). Median age at assessment was 15.6 years (5.7–26.6 years) and median age at diagnosis was 1 month (range: 0–16 months), with 35% (n = 6/17) symptomatic on presentation. From the age of 8 years, there was a noticeable change in median height, weight, and body-mass-index [BMI]-z-scores. Median height-for-age z-scores were consistently ≤ −1 (IQR −1.6, −0.5) during the first 8 years of life but increased with age. Weight-for-age z-scores ranged between −1 to 0 (IQR −1.2, 0.1) in the first 8 years; then increased to &gt; 0.5 (IQR −0.3, 1.3) by age 16 years, and BMI-for-age z-scores ranged from 0 to 1 (IQR −0.7, 1.3) up to 8 years, and &gt;1 (IQR −0.2, 1.9) until 16 years. The percentage of overweight and obesity was lowest in children aged &lt; 5 years, and consistently &gt; 40% in patients aged between 7 to 16 years. The prescribed total protein intake was associated with improved height growth (p &lt; 0.01). Impaired growth in early life improved with age achieving normal population standards. Further studies are needed to investigate factors that influence growth outcome in HTI patients

Natural Protein Tolerance and Metabolic Control in Patients with Hereditary Tyrosinaemia Type 1

In a longitudinal retrospective study, we aimed to assess natural protein (NP) tolerance and metabolic control in a cohort of 20 Hereditary Tyrosinaemia type I (HTI) patients. Their median age was 12 years ([3.2&ndash;17.7 years], n = 11 female, n = 8 Caucasian, n = 8 Asian origin, n = 2 Arabic and n = 2 Indian). All were on nitisinone (NTBC) with a median dose of 0.7 g/kg/day (range 0.4&ndash;1.5 g/kg/day) and were prescribed a tyrosine (Tyr)/phenylalanine (Phe)-restricted diet supplemented with Tyr/Phe-free L-amino acids. Data were collected on clinical signs at presentation, medical history, annual dietary prescriptions, and blood Phe and Tyr levels from diagnosis until transition to the adult service (aged 16&ndash;18 years) or liver transplantation (if it preceded transition). The median age of diagnosis was 2 months (range: 0 to 24 months), with n = 1 diagnosed by newborn screening, n = 3 following phenylketonuria (PKU) screening and n = 7 by sibling screening. Five patients were transplanted (median age 6.3 years), and one died due to liver cancer. The median follow-up was 10 years (3&ndash;16 years), and daily prescribed NP intake increased from a median of 5 to 24 g/day. Lifetime median blood Tyr (370 &micro;mol/L, range 280&ndash;420 &micro;mol/L) and Phe (50 &micro;mol/L, 45&ndash;70 &micro;mol/L) were maintained within the target recommended ranges. This cohort of HTI patients were able to increase the daily NP intake with age while maintaining good metabolic control. Extra NP may improve lifelong adherence to the diet