Evaluation of effectiveness of the diets developed for children with allergical pathology living in conditions of adverse environmental exposures

Abstract

Introduction. Nutrition is one of the important preventive measures aimed at enhancing body resistance to adverse effects of environmental factors. Nutrition modelling taking into account its basic quality and environmental exposures is of particular importance for effective management of risks for the disease. Our objective was to assess the effectiveness of the diets specially developed for children with allergies environmentally exposed to industrial pollutants. Materials and methods. We examined cytomorphological features, nutritional status, general health status, and skin manifestations in eighty 3 to 6-year children suffering from allergies and sensitized to food products. Results. A hypoallergenic elimination and detoxification diet specially developed with account for food intolerance, immune status, protein, energy and micronutrient sufficiency, genomic status, mental and physical health of the preschoolers with allergies led to a 1.5-fold decrease in the number of underweight children and a threefold average drop in blood levels of lead, aluminum, arsenic, copper, and cadmium. The mean number of children with clinical manifestations of food intolerance demonstrated the 1.6-fold decline, the level of sIgA increased, while cytogenetic abnormalities in buccal epithelium decreased by 2.1 times. Limitations. A limitation of the study was the lack of compliance of parents with recommendations for nutritional support. Conclusions. The applied method of modelling the diet using dietary techniques based on basic nutrition data, toxic exposures, genetics, anthropometric, clinical, and immunological indicators has had a beneficial effect on all assessed health parameters in children with allergies living in a large industrial city.