"The season a person is born in
influences a wide range of things: from risk of allergic disease, to height and
lifespan. Yet little is known about how a one-time exposure like the season of
birth has such lasting effects."
This was said by researchers at the University
of Southampton and although they don't have complete answers, they are one step
closer to understanding how one's season of birth is linked to risks of allergy
later in life.
Finnish scientists tested about 1000 children born
between 2001 and 2006 in southeast Finland for sensitisation to food allergens up to the age
of 4.
Results showed that the children that ended their first three months of
development during April and May, were three times more likely to become allergic
to milk and eggs than kids in the same stage of development in the winter. And those born in
fall or winter have higher levels of antibodies to allergies than babies born
in the summer. This could be because of the timing of
the baby’s first chest infection as colds tend to be more common in winter and
therefore more antibodies are produced, or because of the levels of allergens
such as pollen and house dust mite which vary by season.
Other theories include seasonal variations in
sunlight, which could affect vitamin D levels, and maternal diet as price and
availability of fruit and vegetables vary by season.
The study is published online in the Journal
of Epidemiology and Community Health.
By Inés L. 3º B
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