Association between latitude and allergic diseases

[CMdeux]

http://www.annallergy.org/article/S1081-1206%2812%2900858-7/abstract




Well, so much for the "vitamin D deficiency" theorists out there.

Most northerly latitude, that is, latitude closest to the Equator, and high current UV-B exposure were associated with increased odds of hay fever, food allergy, and skin sensitization to house dust mites and molds. More northerly latitude and higher UV-B exposure were associated with increased odds of current asthma among atopic individuals contrasting with a reduced odds of current asthma among nonatopic individuals.

(This study was conducted longitudinally in Tazmania, so "northerly" there means "toward the equator.")

[booandbrimom]

(This study was conducted longitudinally in Tazmania, so "northerly" there means "toward the equator.")

So that doesn't rule it out then, since allergies travel counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Northern, right?

Or do I have it backward? I'll have to go flush my toilet and see...

[Macabre]

The devil is in the details.

[CMdeux]

Yes, the hypothesis which is NOW completely consistent with both this study and with observational/retrospective work done on this subject in the Northern hemisphere is that....


apparently the rules about vitamin D are that it's BAD if you don't have atopic genes, and very very good... if you DO. 


Evidently, I mean.  LOL.

This might be another one of those things like pig manure, I'm guessing.   

[Macabre]

This has actually gotten a lot of airplay on twitter this week--from doctors and respected allergist professional groups.