NEW YORK-Parents who delay giving their children foods may be increasing the risk of food allergies, reports Reuters Health. They report researchers from Finland found children introduced to certain foods later in life were more likely to develop allergies to them.
Reuters said the study will be published in the January 2010 issue of Pediatrics. The researchers observed 994 children participating in a study of diabetes prevention since infancy. They found late introduction of some foods increased the likelihood that a child would be sensitized to that food by the time he or she was 5 years old. Parents’ allergies had no effect on their children’s risk.
Reuters reported the relationship was strongest for eggs introduced after 10.5 months, oats introduced after five months, and wheat introduced after six months. Late introduction of potatoes (after four months) and fish (after about eight months) increased children's likelihood of developing sensitization to inhaled allergens.