Atopic dermatitis is a type of eczema characterized by areas of intense redness, itching and peeling of the skin. It is an allergic reaction that occurs in many children and newborns, whose cause is believed to be a delay in the development of the immune system. It affects between 10 and 20% of children who, in many cases, will drag this problem into adolescence.
Well, a study carried out by the University of Seoul has evaluated the levels of vitamin and mineral intakes, with atopic dermatitis. In particular, it has been observed that increased consumption of iron, beta carotene, vitamin E and folic acid could reduce the risk of atopic dermatitis.
The scientists observed 5-year-old children, 180 of them with atopic dermatitis and 242 without, who evaluated their nutrient intake using a food frequency questionnaire. They also performed blood tests on children to determine the levels of nutrients in circulation.
The results showed that the risk of atopic dermatitis was 56% lower in children with higher intakes of beta carotene, compared to children with less consumption. It was also observed that vitamin E, folic acid and iron were associated with reductions in the risk of atopic dermatitis of 67, 63 and 61% respectively.
These data, together with the serum levels of alpha-tocopherol and retinol (which in turn showed a 36 and 26% reduction in risk respectively) suggest that a nutritional status With a greater amount of antioxidants reduces the risk of this problem. It is believed that antioxidants by counteracting free radicals and inhibiting the inflammatory response, associated with atopic dermatitis, would help contain the inflammatory response and allergic diseases.
Reference: “Antioxidant nutrient intakes and corresponding biomarkers associated with the risk of atopic dermatitis in young children”. S-Y Oh, J Chung, M-K Kim, S O Kwon, B-H Cho. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
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