The International Network for Diet and Nutrition in Allergy (INDANA) was established in 2009 by Berber Vlieg-Boerstra, Isabel Skypala and Carina Venter to unify and promote evidence-based practices for the nutritional management of patients with food hypersensitivity. The network has been supported through the years by our esteemed international champions: professors Hugh Sampson (US), Steve Taylor (US), Gideon Lack (UK) and Susan Prescott (AU).
In 2010, founder members of INDANA were invited to establish the Allied Health Interest Group of EAACI and, in recent years, INDANA was recognised as a sister society of EAACI, with INDANA members involved as integral partners in the pursuit of science in the field of food allergy. INDANA members have taken a leading role in collaborative, multi-professional activities within EAACI such as education, mentorship, research, protocol development, and harmonisation of clinical resources and guidelines. Since 2012, INDANA members have led and contributed to the publication of numerous position papers, systematic reviews, and guideline developments1–10 within the EAACI family. INDANA members have provided expertise in dietary assessment, nutrition and food allergy management and the development of competencies for allied health professionals working in allergy. Current projects include a collaboration with the Research and Outreach Committee to address the topic of ‘Improving Practical Dietary Management of Food Allergy’. In recent years, INDANA members have led the promotion of nutrition within allergy, through the establishment of and leadership in the Immunomodulation and Nutrition Workgroup. Our past INDANA Chair, Dr Isabel Skypala, currently serves as Member at Large on the EAACI Executive Committee.
The vision of the founder members of INDANA to advance the role of diet and nutrition in allergy has led to collaboration within our global community and among diverse health care professionals. Together, we are actively narrowing the gap between nutrition and food science, and food allergy and immunology.
INDANA members hail from six continents all sharing the unifying goal of supporting families managing food allergies. Please visit our website and join us! See: http://www.indana-allergynetwork.org/
Marion Groetch
(INDANA, chair)
Isabel Skypala, Berber Vlieg-Boerstra and Carina Venter
(past INDANA chairs)
1. Halken S, Muraro A, de Silva D, et al. EAACI guideline: preventing the development of food allergy in infants and young children (2020 update). Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2021. doi: 10.1111/pai.13496 [published Online First: 2021/03/13]
2. Venter C, O'Mahony L. (2021). Immunonutrition: The importance of a new European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology working group addressing a significant burden and unmet need. Allergy 2021 doi: 10.1111/all.14781 [published Online First: 2021/02/18]
3. Vlieg-Boerstra B, de Jong N, Meyer R, et al. (2021). Nutrient supplementation for prevention of viral respiratory tract infections in healthy subjects: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Allergy 2021. doi: 10.1111/all.15136 [published Online First: 2021/10/10]
4. Meyer R, Chebar Lozinsky A, Fleischer DM, et al. (2020). Diagnosis and management of Non-IgE gastrointestinal allergies in breastfed infants-An EAACI Position Paper. Allergy 2020; 75(1):14–32. doi: 10.1111/all.13947 [published Online First: 2019/06/15]
5. Venter C, Greenhawt M, Meyer RW, et al. (2020). EAACI position paper on diet diversity in pregnancy, infancy and childhood: Novel concepts and implications for studies in allergy and asthma. Allergy 2020; 75(3):497–523. doi: 10.1111/all.14051 [published Online First: 2019/09/15]
6. de Silva D, Halken S, Singh C, et al. (2020). Preventing food allergy in infancy and childhood: systematic review of randomised controlled trials. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2020 doi: 10.1111/pai.13273 [published Online First: 2020/05/13]
7. Venter C, Agostoni C, Arshad SH, et al. (2020). Dietary factors during pregnancy and atopic outcomes in childhood: A systematic review from the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2020; 31(8):889–912. doi: 10.1111/pai.13303 [published Online First: 2020/06/12]
8. Venter C, Greenhawt M, Meyer RW, et al. (2019). EAACI position paper on diet diversity in pregnancy, infancy and childhood: Novel concepts and implications for studies in allergy and asthma. Allergy 2019. doi: 10.1111/all.14051 [published Online First: 2019/09/15]
9. Skypala IJ, de Jong NW, Angier E, et al. (2018). Promoting and achieving excellence in the delivery of Integrated Allergy Care: the European Academy of Allergy & Clinical Immunology competencies for allied health professionals working in allergy. Clin Transl Allergy 2018; 8(31). doi: 10.1186/s13601-018-0218-7 [published Online First: 2018/08/29]
10. Skypala IJ, Venter C, Meyer R, et al. (2015). The development of a standardised diet history tool to support the diagnosis of food allergy. Clin Transl Allergy 2015; 5(7). doi: 10.1186/s13601-015-0050-2