Fish consumption associated with reduction of fish allergy: A comparative study between children and adults in Fez-Meknes region
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the differences in the self-reported allergies to food, especially fish and shellfish, between children and adults, and to study the association between fish consumption and self-reported fish and shellfish allergy (FSA) according to age.
Design/methodology/approach
This study is based on a survey conducted between April 2014 and December 2016 where children and adults were recruited from the general population of the Fez-Meknes region. The total studied population was 4,046 people.
Findings
The results show that the self-reported food allergy (FA) of the general population was more frequent among children (28.2 per cent) than adults (16.8 per cent), in which eggs, fish/shellfish, milk and cereals were the most common food cited. With regard to the self-reported FSA, the authors found a prevalence of 9.5 per cent in both children and adults, whereas fish species allergies were more frequent among adults than children. The most common clinical manifestations observed in this population were cutaneous reactions. The study of the association between fish consumption and FSA shows that people who consumed fish had a lower rate of FSA, especially in adults (p < 0.001).
Originality/value
The self-reported FA of the general population was more pronounced in children than adults. Regarding the self-reported FSA, the authors have shown a prevalence of 9.5 per cent in both children and adults, indicating an important sensitivity of their population to fish and shellfish. The authors have shown that consumption of fish was associated significantly with a lower rate of FSA, especially in adults.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the grants of the Moroccan National Center for Scientific and Techniques Research (CNRST) to Najlae Mejrhit. We would like to thank the local authorities of Educational Ministry as well as all the directors and teachers of the schools of the Fez-Meknes region for their help.
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Citation
Mejrhit, N., Azdad, O., El Kabbaoui, M., Chda, A., Tazi, A., Bencheikh, R. and Aarab, L. (2018), "Fish consumption associated with reduction of fish allergy: A comparative study between children and adults in Fez-Meknes region", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 48 No. 1, pp. 136-149. https://doi.org/10.1108/NFS-04-2017-0062
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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