Balancing act: Navigating elimination diets in allergic kids without compromising nutrition

In a recent research paper published in the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics' Jornal de Pediatria, researchers reviewed the role of elimination diets in children with food allergies, highlighting the need for a multidisciplinary management plan that supports each child's nutrition, health, and growth.

Review article: Elimination diet in food allergy: friend or foe? Image Credit: Africa Studio / ShutterstockReview article: Elimination diet in food allergy: friend or foe? Image Credit: Africa Studio / Shutterstock

Food allergies can cause severe symptoms, and medical guidance often recommends avoiding allergens to prevent adverse reactions. For non-Immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated allergies, which do not cause anaphylaxis but affect the gastrointestinal tract, doctors may suggest temporarily eliminating and then reintroducing one or more items from the child's diet to diagnose the source of the allergy. Safe items can then be consumed, and allergens can be eliminated.

However, these restrictions come with their challenges. They exact an emotional toll on the child and their family, affect socialization in school and beyond, and can also have consequences for the growing child's development. Managing food allergies must not jeopardize dietary quality and diversity, particularly at a young age.

Elimination diets for diagnosis and management

Food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis (FPIAP) is an example of a non-IgE-mediated allergy. Children with FPIAP react to foreign food proteins, which causes inflammation in the colon.

In these cases, doctors recommend following an elimination diet for one or two months. Children are asked to follow the diet for two weeks or more for IgE-mediated allergies before being reintroduced to the food under medical supervision.

It may not be necessary to eliminate foods entirely or permanently. Allergen-specific oral immunotherapy may be effective in inducing a certain level of tolerance. Children often outgrow food allergies with time; it is important to reassess whether a food is still an allergen periodically so they do not have to follow unnecessary restrictions.

Similarly, a recent development in allergy management is the use of low-dose oral challenges, which allow doctors to understand what dose of the food will cause a reaction. Sometimes, children allergic to cow milk (CM) and eggs can tolerate them in certain preparations, such as when they have been baked or cooked thoroughly.

Substituting allergy-causing foods after elimination

Once a food allergy is confirmed, eliminating the allergen and finding suitable substitutes may be necessary. For example, children under the age of 2 who have CM allergies can be given baby formula that is soy-based, hydrolyzed, or contains amino acids.

Nutrition plays a vital role in finding a suitable substitute for an allergen. Elimination reduces the chances of an adverse effect, but preventing and treating nutritional deficits is as critical. Restricted diets risk lowering dietary diversity, which can reduce immunity.

When substituting foods, it is important to consider that they can have different nutritional values. The authors classify food substitutes as (1) nutritional substitutes, which have some or all the nutrients present in the allergen, and (2) cooking substitutes, which do not have equivalent nutritional values. Many vegan cheeses, for example, are poorer in protein and calcium than dairy-based cheese.

For this reason, eliminating allergens without introducing suitable nutritional alternatives can impair children's growth and development and lead to short stature. Other children have suffered from obesity as a result of inappropriate substitutes, leading to unbalanced diets.

Dietary balance, quality, and diversity

Healthy diets are predominantly made up of minimally processed and unprocessed foods, which are rich in micro- and macronutrients, antioxidants, and fiber. However, many children with allergies are deficient in nutrients such as calcium, iodine, iron, vitamins A and D, zinc, and selenium.

The risk of developing a deficiency increases with the number and type of excluded foods. Allergic children who do not consume dairy can have lower energy because they are not obtaining enough lipids and proteins.

Dietary diversity is not simply the number of food groups the child consumes but also their frequency and nutritional value. A diverse diet can prevent the development and severity of allergies. Children who are introduced to more foods between 6 months and one year old are less likely to show signs of food allergies before age ten.

Allergy risk also increases if the child consumes high levels of ultra-processed foods and other poor nutrition and health outcomes. This could be mediated through an increase in stomach inflammation and a reduction in beneficial intestinal microbes.

Excluding certain foods should not compromise nutritional quality or quantity, and dietary advice must consider these factors. Health providers should use detailed medical histories, prioritize locally available foods based on the family's economic ability, and guide caregivers accordingly.

Conclusions

While elimination diets may be the best way to manage some food allergies, they should not compromise the child's nutrition and growth. With proper guidance, caregivers can identify substitutes for allergens and devise affordable, balanced, and healthy diets that are rich in fiber and nutrients and low in processed foods.

Journal reference:
Priyanjana Pramanik

Written by

Priyanjana Pramanik

Priyanjana Pramanik is a writer based in Kolkata, India, with an academic background in Wildlife Biology and economics. She has experience in teaching, science writing, and mangrove ecology. Priyanjana holds Masters in Wildlife Biology and Conservation (National Centre of Biological Sciences, 2022) and Economics (Tufts University, 2018). In between master's degrees, she was a researcher in the field of public health policy, focusing on improving maternal and child health outcomes in South Asia. She is passionate about science communication and enabling biodiversity to thrive alongside people. The fieldwork for her second master's was in the mangrove forests of Eastern India, where she studied the complex relationships between humans, mangrove fauna, and seedling growth.

Citations

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

  • APA

    Pramanik, Priyanjana. (2023, November 02). Balancing act: Navigating elimination diets in allergic kids without compromising nutrition. News-Medical. Retrieved on October 31, 2024 from https://www.news-medical.net/news/20231102/Balancing-act-Navigating-elimination-diets-in-allergic-kids-without-compromising-nutrition.aspx.

  • MLA

    Pramanik, Priyanjana. "Balancing act: Navigating elimination diets in allergic kids without compromising nutrition". News-Medical. 31 October 2024. <https://www.news-medical.net/news/20231102/Balancing-act-Navigating-elimination-diets-in-allergic-kids-without-compromising-nutrition.aspx>.

  • Chicago

    Pramanik, Priyanjana. "Balancing act: Navigating elimination diets in allergic kids without compromising nutrition". News-Medical. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20231102/Balancing-act-Navigating-elimination-diets-in-allergic-kids-without-compromising-nutrition.aspx. (accessed October 31, 2024).

  • Harvard

    Pramanik, Priyanjana. 2023. Balancing act: Navigating elimination diets in allergic kids without compromising nutrition. News-Medical, viewed 31 October 2024, https://www.news-medical.net/news/20231102/Balancing-act-Navigating-elimination-diets-in-allergic-kids-without-compromising-nutrition.aspx.

Comments

The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of News Medical.
Post a new comment
Post

While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses. Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for medical information you must always consult a medical professional before acting on any information provided.

Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their privacy principles.

Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential information.

Read the full Terms & Conditions.

You might also like...
Using microbial community-scale metabolic modeling approach for precision nutrition