Dietary Vitamin C Fights Allergies in Infants

Dietary Vitamin C Fights Allergies in Infants

TURKU, Finland--Finnish scientists studied the antioxidativecomposition and effects of supplemental vitamin C, vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol)and beta-carotene in breast milk and the potential ability of each to ward offthe development of allergies in infants. The study, sponsored by the Academy ofFinland, the Juho Vainio Foundation and the Finnish Cultural Foundation, andpublished in the January issue of the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition(59:123-128, 2005), found higher concentrations of vitamin C in maternal breastmilk to be associated with a reduced risk of atopy in the infant.

Mothers with atopic disease were recruited at the end of gestation andmaternal sensitization was assessed by skin prick testing. Four-day food recordsof the mothers were collected, as well as breast milk samples, when infants wereone month old. Infant atopy (a hereditary allergy characterized by symptomsproduced upon exposure to the exciting antigen) was defined by the presence ofatopic dermatitis during the first year of life and a positive skin prick testreaction at 12 months of age (n = 34).

Maternal intake of vitamin C through diet, but not as supplement, was shownto determine the concentration of vitamin C in breast milk. A higherconcentration of vitamin C in breast milk was found to be associated with areduced risk of atopy in the infant, whereas alpha-tocopherol had no consistentrelationship with atopy.

The researchers concluded a maternal diet rich in natural sources of vitaminC during breastfeeding could reduce the risk of allergies in high risk infants.