Analyses on Nutritional and Behavioral Risk Factors of Atopic Dermatitis (AD) in Korean Preschoolers

ABSTRACT

In order to examine nutritional and behavioral risk factors of atopic dermatitis (AD) in Korean preschoolers, we analyzed data on 144 children aged 3 - 6 years with AD and their 434 healthy counterparts. The data included breastfeeding history, current weight, food behaviors assessed by the Mini Dietary Assessment (MDA), food intake by a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, and behavior problems by the Preschool and Kindergarten Behavior Scale (PKBS). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed after controlling for preschool location and child's age, gender and total energy intake, as appropriate. There was no group difference of child and household characteristics. Breastfeeding history was related to lower AD risk (OR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.40 - 0 .99), yet no statistically significant association was found with overweight status. Regarding food behaviors, AD risk was lower in children who drank milk at least one cup per day (OR = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.35 - 0.78) and had regular meals (OR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.42 - 0.92). Moreover, there were lower risks of AD in the second (OR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.28 - 0.82) and the highest (OR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.32 - 0.94) intake quartiles as compared with the lowest quartile of kimchi intake. Similarly, AD risk was lower in the highest quartile of rice (OR = 0.51 CI = 0.28 - 0.93) and the second quartile of fruit (OR = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.25 - 0.82) intakes. AD children had more problems in social interaction (OR = 1.97, 95% CI = 1.26 - 3.07) and independence (OR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.01 - 2.54) measures than the healthy controls. Likewise, AD children tended to show more problem behaviors such as anxiety (OR = 1.63, 95% CI = 0.99 - 2.69). Our results suggest that nutritional and behavioral dimensions are related to AD risk, yet the case control study design may preclude generalization of these results.