Is exposure to mite allergens in breast milk or house dust a risk factor for asthma and allergies in childhood?
Exposure to mite allergens occurs early in life from both breast milk and house dust (especially bedding). The study presented below examined the impact of exposure to the dominant mite allergen Der p 1 on serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels and the development of bronchial asthma in childhood.
Study Methodology and Population Studied
The study included 249 mothers (average age 31.1 years) with infants (51% boys) who were breastfed for an average duration of 30 weeks. Among the mothers, 40 (16%) were diagnosed with asthma bronchiale and 95 (39%) with a mite allergy. At the ages of 3 months, 1 year, and then every 12 months up to 8 years old, and again at 11, 14, and 17 years old, a questionnaire focusing on diagnosis, clinical symptoms, and potential bronchial asthma treatment was filled out. Blood samples were taken at ages 1, 4, 8, 12, and 16 to determine total and specific IgE levels in serum. A specific IgE level ≥ 0.35 kU/l was considered sensitization to the allergen Der p 1. Additionally, samples of breast milk and house dust from infant mattresses were analyzed at 3 months to determine the concentration of allergen Der p 1.
Key Findings
The allergen Der p 1 was detected in 36% of breast milk samples (average concentration 174 pg/ml) and 41% of dust samples from infant mattresses (average concentration 1165 ng per 1 g of dust). Exposure to Der p 1 through breast milk was associated with an increased risk of high serum IgE levels (> 150 kU/ml) in childhood compared to infants consuming breast milk with undetectable levels of Der p 1 (odds ratio [OR] 1.83; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05–3.20; p = 0.029). In contrast, exposure to this allergen in bedding dust was not associated with high serum IgE levels in childhood. The authors did not observe an increased risk of asthma and sensitization to Der p 1 based on exposure to the mite allergen in breast milk and house dust from mattresses.
Conclusion
Exposure to the mite allergen Der p 1 through breast milk was related to high serum IgE levels in early childhood, while exposure through house dust from mattresses was not. Although there is no doubt that breastfeeding plays a significant role in the physiological development of infants' immune systems, the exact role of breastfeeding in the pathogenesis of allergies in children remains unanswered.
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