Thursday, September 12, 2013

Health professionals knowledge about food allergy/intolerance

Researchers in the August issue of Clinical Nutrition evaluated the knowledge and practice of pediatricians, pediatric gastroenterologists, allergists and nutritionists regarding the primary prevention of food allergy.

Despite the lack of current recommendations, 17.1% of all professionals, mainly nutritionists, recommended a maternal exclusion diet during pregnancy. More professionals recommended a maternal exclusion diet during breastfeeding, and the rates of recommendation were higher in nutritionists and pediatricians compared to allergists and pediatric gastroenterologists.

41.9% of the professionals recommended modifying the age of food introduction to prevent the development of food allergy. The majority of the professionals believed that prebiotics (61.2%) and probiotics (44.4%) prevent the development of food allergy. The recommended age of introduction for the main allergenic foods was 12 months.

This study is the first to reveal that there are gaps in the knowledge of professionals about the primary prevention of food allergy.

Bonnie: I am surprised the percentages are that high. ,The study did not even cover food intolerances.

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