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Serum ovalbumin-specific immunoglobulin G responses during pregnancy reflect maternal intake of dietary egg and relate to the development of allergy in early infancy

Serum ovalbumin-specific immunoglobulin G responses during pregnancy reflect maternal intake of dietary egg and relate to the development of allergy in early infancy
Serum ovalbumin-specific immunoglobulin G responses during pregnancy reflect maternal intake of dietary egg and relate to the development of allergy in early infancy
Background: The value of allergen elimination diets during pregnancy for primary prevention of infant allergy has been questioned. However, dietary compliance may influence effectiveness.
Objectives: To monitor egg intake during a randomized controlled trial of egg avoidance throughout pregnancy and lactation by serial measurements of serum ovalbumin (OVA) IgG concentration in conjunction with dietary diary record and also, to analyse specific IgG concentrations at birth in relation to infant allergic outcome.
Methods: Pregnant women, with personal or partner atopy, were randomized to complete dietary egg exclusion or an unmodified healthy diet before 20 weeks gestation. The infants were evaluated for atopy at 6 months of age. Serum food-specific IgG concentrations were determined by ELISA in maternal samples collected at study recruitment and during labour, and in infant samples at birth (umbilical cord).
Results: Serum-specific IgG to OVA, but not the unrelated allergen, cow's milk ?-lactoglobulin, decreased over pregnancy in egg-avoiding women only (P<0.001). Cord OVA IgG concentration correlated with maternal IgG at delivery (r=0.944; P<0.001), and for infants born to atopic women, cord concentration was higher than that of their mother's (P<0.001). Infants with the lowest and highest cord IgG concentrations were the least likely, and those with mid-range concentrations were the most likely, to be atopic by 6 months of age (P=0.008).
Conclusion: Serum OVA IgG concentration reflects egg consumption, thereby indicating dietary allergen doses to which the developing immune system might be exposed. Trans-placental maternal IgG must be considered among early life factors that regulate infant atopic programming.
0954-7894
1855-1861
Vance, G.H.
4af60497-f0b7-481b-a76c-65726f8cb5d1
Grimshaw, K.E.
766b6cf0-347a-447d-aeab-f07366f8ce28
Briggs, R.
6181bb2b-07eb-4850-aabc-d106f13a39b0
Lewis, S.A.
fb9dc5ac-21d9-4dfe-b917-fc87116170e2
Mullee, M.A.
fd3f91c3-5e95-4f56-8d73-260824eeb362
Thornton, C.A.
898d425c-5242-458e-8862-852109ee0a64
Warner, J.O.
c232f1e5-62eb-46e6-8b0c-4836b45b36a5
Vance, G.H.
4af60497-f0b7-481b-a76c-65726f8cb5d1
Grimshaw, K.E.
766b6cf0-347a-447d-aeab-f07366f8ce28
Briggs, R.
6181bb2b-07eb-4850-aabc-d106f13a39b0
Lewis, S.A.
fb9dc5ac-21d9-4dfe-b917-fc87116170e2
Mullee, M.A.
fd3f91c3-5e95-4f56-8d73-260824eeb362
Thornton, C.A.
898d425c-5242-458e-8862-852109ee0a64
Warner, J.O.
c232f1e5-62eb-46e6-8b0c-4836b45b36a5

Vance, G.H., Grimshaw, K.E., Briggs, R., Lewis, S.A., Mullee, M.A., Thornton, C.A. and Warner, J.O. (2004) Serum ovalbumin-specific immunoglobulin G responses during pregnancy reflect maternal intake of dietary egg and relate to the development of allergy in early infancy. Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 34 (12), 1855-1861. (doi:10.1111/j.1365-2222.2004.02111.x).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Background: The value of allergen elimination diets during pregnancy for primary prevention of infant allergy has been questioned. However, dietary compliance may influence effectiveness.
Objectives: To monitor egg intake during a randomized controlled trial of egg avoidance throughout pregnancy and lactation by serial measurements of serum ovalbumin (OVA) IgG concentration in conjunction with dietary diary record and also, to analyse specific IgG concentrations at birth in relation to infant allergic outcome.
Methods: Pregnant women, with personal or partner atopy, were randomized to complete dietary egg exclusion or an unmodified healthy diet before 20 weeks gestation. The infants were evaluated for atopy at 6 months of age. Serum food-specific IgG concentrations were determined by ELISA in maternal samples collected at study recruitment and during labour, and in infant samples at birth (umbilical cord).
Results: Serum-specific IgG to OVA, but not the unrelated allergen, cow's milk ?-lactoglobulin, decreased over pregnancy in egg-avoiding women only (P<0.001). Cord OVA IgG concentration correlated with maternal IgG at delivery (r=0.944; P<0.001), and for infants born to atopic women, cord concentration was higher than that of their mother's (P<0.001). Infants with the lowest and highest cord IgG concentrations were the least likely, and those with mid-range concentrations were the most likely, to be atopic by 6 months of age (P=0.008).
Conclusion: Serum OVA IgG concentration reflects egg consumption, thereby indicating dietary allergen doses to which the developing immune system might be exposed. Trans-placental maternal IgG must be considered among early life factors that regulate infant atopic programming.

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Published date: 2004

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Local EPrints ID: 24534
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/24534
ISSN: 0954-7894
PURE UUID: 9aa63039-f475-431a-a30d-e5fe6a17f43f

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Date deposited: 31 Mar 2006
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 06:56

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Contributors

Author: G.H. Vance
Author: K.E. Grimshaw
Author: R. Briggs
Author: S.A. Lewis
Author: M.A. Mullee
Author: C.A. Thornton
Author: J.O. Warner

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