Clinical study on the risk of food allergy and the concentration of cord blood IgG4

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K08169
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 52050:Embryonic medicine and pediatrics-related
• Research Institution: Jikei University School of Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Tachimoto Hiroshi 東京慈恵会医科大学, 医学部, 准教授 (40256409)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 浦島 充佳 東京慈恵会医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (80203602)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 食物アレルギー / 発症予防 / 臍帯血 / IgG4

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have reported that anaphylaxis caused by ingestion of cow's milk, eggs, wheat, and other foods can be prevented by eliminating cow's milk fomula for three days after birth. We have started a randomized trial to determine whether food allergies develop in infants by eliminating processed meat and other foods from the mother's diet for one month immediately after birth. We focused on whether dietary intervention for mothers can prevent food allergies in children, and on the relationship between IgG4 concentration in umbilical cord blood and the onset of food allergies. This study is an exploratory study in ongoing clinical research to clarify whether "high food-specific IgG4 concentration in umbilical cord blood reduces the risk of developing food allergies, and conversely, low IgG4 concentration leads to allergic sensitization and increases the risk of developing food allergies."

Free Research Field

胎児医学および小児成育学関連

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

21世紀に入り増加している食物アレルギーの発症メカニズムを解明することの社会的意義は非常に大きい。例えば東京都の3歳時全都調査によると平成21年以降およそ15％の子供たちが食物アレルギーを持っている。その子供たちの食物アレルギー発症を抑えることは症状に悩む本人や家族のストレスを軽減するのみならず両親が仕事を休まなければならないことも減り、社会的意義は大きいと考える。