Vitamin D and iron status in food allergic children.

Background Children with food allergy are at specific risk for nutritional deficiencies. Objective To retrospectively determine prevalence of vitamin D and iron deficiencies in children with or without food allergy (FA). Methods We compared the markers of vitamin D and iron status of 0-17-year-olds with CMA (n=77), other FA (n=70), and atopic children without FA (n=87) at an academic pediatric allergy practice. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to determine the impact of CMA and other FA on vitamin D levels and iron markers Results Vitamin D deficiency was detected in one-fourth and insufficiency in onethird of children with CMA and other FA and in those with atopic diseases but no FA. Vitamin D levels were associated with vitamin D supplementation, and consumption of breast milk, cow’s milk, infant formula or plant-based milk beverage, but not with CMA or other FA. Older children with FA who did not consume any cow’s milk or alternative milk beverage were at highest risk for vitamin D insufficiency. CMA children have a higher rate of IDA (8%) than other FA children (1%) or those with no FA (5%, p Conclusion Vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency is common in atopic children overall but children with CMA are at higher risk for IDA. Intensive nutritional counseling and nutrient intake monitoring, specifically for vitamin D and iron in those avoiding cow’s milk, is necessary to optimize nutritional status.