(P10-094-24) Identifying Patterns of Allergen Exposure in 12-to-36-Month-Old Children and the Gut Microbiota at 24 Months in a Michigan Cohort

Objectives: This study aims to characterize the consumption patterns of seven major food allergens in children in a Michigan cohort to determine if nutritional guidelines of early exposure to food allergens are being followed by caregivers. This study also aims to identify gut microbiota differences at 24 mos of age based on allergen exposure.

Methods: This longitudinal study assessed childhood allergen intake using 24-hour and year-long recall parent-report, food intake questionnaires at 12 (n=46), 24 (n=46), and 36 (n=27) mos of age. Participants were recruited from health clinics. The data set is being expanded to increase the sample size. Following DNA extraction, PCR amplification, and 16S rRNA sequencing of fecal samples, gut microbiota data will be analyzed for diversity metrics. All statistical analyses are conducted in R using the R Studio Interface.

Results: Apart from dairy and wheat, most allergens were avoided within the first year of life. Dairy was the most consumed allergen in the 24-hour diet recall at all timepoints. Whereas wheat was the most consumed allergen based on the year-long diet recall at each of the three timepoints. Over the course of the first three years of life, peanuts were consumed by 30-50% of the participants based on 24-hour recall. Based on 24 hour and year-long diet recall across all timepoints, soybeans were the least consumed allergen. Tree-nut, egg, and soybean consumption significantly increased with age. Overall, the diet diversity score, based on 24-hour recall data, was not associated with the 24mos gut microbiota membership or composition.

Conclusions: Dairy and wheat consumption was common in this cohort, but generally parents limited allergen consumption by their children, despite national recommendations encouraging introduction around 6 months of age.

Funding Sources: This research was financially supported in part by institutional funds provided to the investigators as well as funds from the Office of the Director at the National Institutes of Health.