Food Allergies Tied to Increased Mental Health Risk in Kids

TOPLINE:

Food allergies in children were associated with elevated risks for eating disorders, anxiety, and depression. These mental health risks varied from those seen in children with other chronic conditions such as asthma, atopic dermatitis, and type 1 diabetes.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers conducted a retrospective study including data from 1,153,984 children aged 0-18 years from UK primary care practices between 2000 and 2021 to assess the link between food allergies and mental health outcomes.
• The participants were categorized into those with food allergies (n = 23,263; median age, 5 years; 43% girls); without food allergies (n = 1,130,721; median age, 8 years; 48% girls); and with asthma (n = 136,453; median age, 8 years; 43% girls), type 1 diabetes (n = 4835; median age, 11 years; 45% girls), or atopic dermatitis (n = 207,575; median age, 5 years; 51% girls) with no history of food allergies.
• All participants were followed up for at least 1 year and up to 20 years to assess the development of specified mental health conditions.

TAKEAWAY:

• Children with food allergies had significantly higher risks of being diagnosed with eating disorders (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.85; 95% CI, 1.42-2.41), anxiety (aHR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.25-1.45), and depression (aHR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.11-1.39) than children without food allergies.
• Children with food allergies had a significantly lower risk for depression than their peers with asthma (aHR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.68-0.87) and those with type 1 diabetes (aHR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.54-0.76).
• The risk for anxiety was significantly lower among children with food allergies than among those with asthma (aHR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.79-0.91).

IN PRACTICE:

“In light of these results, we recommend a holistic approach to FA [food allergy] management that integrates mental health screening and support into routine care,” the authors wrote. “This could involve regular psychological assessments, educational programs about potential mental health risks for patients and families, and closer collaboration between allergists and mental health professionals,” they added.

SOURCE:

Natalie Flaks‑Manov, with KI Research Institute, Kfar Malal, Israel, was the lead author of the study, which was published online on July 16 in the European Journal of Pediatrics. 

LIMITATIONS:

The study was potentially limited by its retrospective design and reliance on routine electronic health record data, lacking confirmation of mental health diagnoses by specialists or use of standardized tools. Additionally, data on both the severity of various conditions and family history of mental illness were missing.

DISCLOSURES:

The authors reported having no conflicts of interest.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.