Food intake of patients with atopic dermatitis

There is only restricted information about the nutritional behavior of adul t patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). Our purpose was to evaluate the food intake in a series of patients with AD with particular consideration of self-reported food intolerance. Particula r attention was paid to the risks of nutrient deficiencies. We examined the intake of 28 food items in 116 AD patients with a food-freq uency questionnaire (FFQ). For each food item the cohort was divided in two groups according to whether symptoms were reported or not (symptomatic vs. asymptomatic). We found in a series of food items a significant lower food intake among sy mptomatic patients. Significantly lower intakes were reported by symptomati c patients for dairy products, fish, egg, pork, oranges, non-specified frui ts, apples, kiwis, green or red peppers, peanuts and hazelnuts, We conclude d that in symptomatic AD patients supplementation with specific nutrients m ight become mandatory. This is particularly pertinent for calcium, iodine, vitamin C and n-3 fatty acids.