Infections, Respiratory Symptoms, and Allergy in Relation to Rice Cereal Consumption in a United States Cohort
Year: 2019
Type: conference-abstract
Abstract: TPS 752: Respiratory effects and allergies, Exhibition Hall, Ground floor, August 27, 2019, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM Background/Aim: Inorganic arsenic is found in rice products marketed in the US at concentrations that raise serious concerns about potential health consequences for infants as they transition to solid food. We sought to determine whether introduction of rice cereal influences occurrence of infant infections, allergy and respiratory symptoms in 488 infants from the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study (NHBCS). Methods: Infant intake of rice cereal and timing of introduction of rice cereal were obtained along with infant infection, allergy and respiratory outcomes from quarterly telephone surveys in the first year of life and at approximately one and a half years of age. Association with rice cereal intake and occurrence of infection, allergy, and respiratory outcomes was determined using generalized estimating equations (GEE), adjusted for maternal smoking during pregnancy, marital status, education attainment, pre-pregnancy body mass index, maternal age at enrollment, infant birth weight, and breastfeeding history. Results: Longer exposure to rice cereal was associated with increased risk of subsequent allergy diagnosed during a doctor’s visit (RR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.02-1.31), acute respiratory symptoms including wheeze, difficulty breathing, and cough (RR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.03-1.31), and fever (RR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.03-1.60) requiring a prescription medicine. Associations with gastrointestinal symptoms were less consistent. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that consumption of rice cereal during infancy may influence infants’ immune response early in life.
Source: Environmental Epidemiology
Authors: Moroishi Y, Signes-Pastor A, Li Z, Cottingham K, Enelow R, Madan J, Nadeau K, Karagas M
Institutions: University of Florida, Stanford University
Language: English
Subfield: Immunology and Allergy
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,200
OpenAlex ID: W2981537636