A recent review of 18 studies has demonstrated that breast-feeding in the first three months of life can help shield children from food allergies, according to findings presented this week at the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology in Dallas.
Other possible food allergy prevention strategies include maternal food avoidance during pregnancy and breast-feeding, the use of hypoallergenic formulas, and delayed introduction of allergenic foods and probiotics.
Expert at the meeting also discussed the need for doctors to consider food allergy as a potential cause of gastrointestinal or dermatological symptoms in patients.