engleski

Relationship of environment and lifestyle with atopic diseases in young Croatian adults

Pathogenesis of atopic disorders such as atopic rhinitis, atopic asthma and atopic demratitis lies in gene-environment interactions. Hypothesis of this study is that in Croatian population filaggrin gene (FLG) polymorphisms (R501X, 2282del4, R2447X i S3247X) contribute to atopic diseases, and that this contribution is modulated by environmental factors (settlement type, heating type, animal contact, smoking, physical activity, BMI, nutrition). The study enrolled 439 freshmen students at the University of Zagreb which underwent allergy testing, spirometry with bronchodilatation testing, FLG genotyping and answering a questionnaire regarding health, lifestyle and food intake. Results indicate low frequency of investigated FLG null mutations (2, 6%), thus being unconfirmed as significant etiological factors for atopy and atopic diseases in this population. However, significant risk for atopy was associated with male gender, parental family history of hay-fever and rodent pet exposure in later childhood. Elevated risk of atopic symptom expression was positively associated with female gender, maternal family history of respiratory and skin allergy, childhood cat exposure, physical inactivity, lower BMI, households with central heating and offal consumption. Exposure to birds and farm animals in early childhood was protective against atopy, whereas higher consuption of apples and citrus fruits protected from symptoms of atopic diseases.

atopic diseases; risk factors; protective factors; sex; apple; citrus fruit; pets

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