Lasting atopy risk in females with neonatal vitamin A Rx

(HealthDay)—Neonatal vitamin A supplementation (NVAS) is associated with increased long-term risk of atopy in females, but not males, according to a study published online May 2 in Allergy.

Sofie Aage, from the Statens Serum Institut in Copenhagen, Denmark, and colleagues conducted long-term follow-up of a previous randomized controlled trial in Guinea-Bissau examining the effect of NVAS on atopy. In 2002 to 2004, 4,345 normal birth weight neonates were randomized to NVAS or placebo. In 2013, the authors visited 1,692 of the children, aged 8 to 10 years, and found 1,478 at home. A skin prick test was performed in 1,430 children and history of allergy symptoms were recorded.

The researchers found that 16 percent of the children with a valid skin prick test were positive (20 percent of boys versus 12 percent of girls; P < 0.0001). The overall risk of atopy was not increased with NVAS (relative risk [RR], 1.10; 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 0.87 to 1.40). Among females, but not males, NVAS correlated with significantly increased risk (RR for females, 1.78; 95 percent CI, 1.17 to 2.72; RR for males, 0.86; 95 percent CI, 0.64 to 1.15; P = 0.005). Among females, but not males, NVAS correlated with increased risk of wheezing (RR, 1.80; 95 percent CI, 1.03 to 3.17; P for interaction = 0.05).

"The study corroborated previous observations; NVAS was associated with increased risk of atopy and wheezing, in this study only among females," the authors write.

Allergens and lancets were provided by ALK Abelló.