Abstract

Background and Objectives: Early-life diet may influence immune development and the risk of allergic diseases. This study investigated associations between dietary patterns at 24 months of age and allergic diseases in Korean toddlers. Methods and Study Design: In this cross-sectional study, 433 toddlers from the Korean Mothers and Children’s Environmental Health (MOCEH) cohort were included. Dietary intake was assessed using two non-consecutive 24-hour recalls. Factor analysis of 26 food groups identified dietary patterns, and individual pattern scores were categorized into tertiles based on ascending distribution. Allergic diseases were determined by caregiver questionnaires. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess associations, adjusting for confounders. Results: Three dietary patterns were identified: Pattern 1 (white rice, kimchi, and non-salt-preserved vegetables), Pattern 2 (seasoning, butter, and meat), and Pattern 3 (milk and dairy products). Compared with the lowest tertile, the highest tertile of Pattern 2 was associated with higher odds of other allergic diseases (OR: 7.55; 95% CI: 1.62–35.23), and any allergic disease (OR: 2.03; 95% CI: 1.10–3.73). Pattern 3 was inversely associated with atopic dermatitis (OR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.27–0.98), while Pattern 1 showed no significant association. Conclusions: Early childhood dietary patterns may influence the development of allergic disease. A pattern characterized by seasoning, butter, and meat was associated with an increased risk of allergic disease, whereas a dairy-based pattern was inversely associated with atopic dermatitis in Korean toddlers.

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