Children with predominant margarine consumption have an increased risk for eczema and allergic sensitization

This study can be accessed at Pediatric Allergy and Immunology 2006 Mar;17(2):85-93

Study title and authors:
Margarine and butter consumption, eczema and allergic sensitization in children. The LISA birth cohort study.

Sausenthaler S, Kompauer I, Borte M, Herbarth O, Schaaf B, Berg A, Zutavern A, Heinrich J; LISA Study Group.
GSF - National Research Centre for Environment and Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Neuherberg, Germany.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16618357

The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between dietary intake of margarine and butter with eczema and allergic sensitization in two-year-old children. (Allergic sensitization is the development of antibodies to a substance that results in an allergic reaction). Data was analysed of the butter and margarine intake of 2,582 two-year-old children and the subsequent allergic outcome.

The study found:
(a) Predominant margarine intake was associated with a 110% increased risk of doctor-diagnosed eczema.
(b) Predominant margarine intake was associated with a 110% increased risk of allergic sensitization against inhalant allergens.
(c) No associations were found for butter intake.

The study shows that children with predominant margarine consumption had an increased risk for eczema and allergic sensitization, while butter intake was no predictor for allergic diseases.