Individuals who take dietary supplements often do so because they want to absorb the nutritional benefits of foods without experiencing any potential drawbacks that eating those items might entail. One possible consequence, one that has encouraged many Americans to consider taking vitamin supplements, is food allergies.
According to a new study published in the journal Pediatrics, these reactions are more common among children than healthcare experts previously realized. Researchers in Chicago and St. Louis announced that approximately 8 percent of all children under the age of 18 have them.
The team derived this figure from data collected from more than 38,000 U.S. children and their families. Among those respondents who reported having food allergies, an estimated 30 percent were allergic to more than one food item. In all, 38 percent of children with allergies had severe ones.
The most common pediatric food allergies were to peanuts, milk and shellfish. People who cannot eat these foods may be missing out on key nutrients. Rather than putting their health at risk by eating these items, individuals may consider trying a daily multivitamin or an herbal supplement.
