Table 1.

Sex disparity in food allergy reporting: implications for clinical and translational research.

Findings from our research	Questions to consider
In children:	- Does maternal imprinting and/or epigenetic modification differentially target sex in-utero with regard to food allergy?
Greater than 64% of the reported food allergies to 11 major foods involve boys	- Is there a difference in exposure to allergenic foods among males and females?
	- Is there a sex disparity in neonatal/postnatal immune response to allergenic foods?
	- Is there a sex disparity in the quality (intensity and/or frequency) of clinical response to allergenic foods upon re-exposure among children?
In adults:	- Is there a sex disparity in the outgrowing of food allergy during late childhood or adulthood?
Greater than 65% of the reported food allergies to 11 major foods involve women	- Is there a difference in exposure to allergenic foods among males and females?
	- What is the impact of the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and sex hormones on allergic response to foods?
	- Is there a sex disparity in the quality (intensity and/or frequency) of clinical response to allergenic foods upon re-exposure?
	- Do psychosocial factors contribute to sex disparity in food allergy reporting?
	- Does the sex disparity reflect a difference in food allergy or sensitization to aeroallergens resulting in oral allergy syndrome?