Black children twice as likely to have food allergies than white children

A recent study that involved 1,100 2 year olds in Boston found that black children were twice as likely to have an immune response to foods such as peanuts, milk, eggs and almost four times as likely to have a sensitization to three or more foods in comparison to white children. In addition, if a child's DNA had more African ancestry, the child was more likely to have a food sensitization to any food, especially that of peanuts. The foods tested included eggs, milk, peanuts, soy, shrimp, walnuts, wheat and cod. Many of the children involved in the study were from an urban area and low-income homes.

Breast cancer more lethal in black women

According to a recent Reuters article, breast cancer appears to be more lethal in Black women according to the results of a new study. Researchers had thought that obesity differences between Black and White women might explain the breast cancer survival difference between the two groups five years after the initial diagnosis (78% Blacks to 90% Whites). While this was not proven, researchers believe that differences in tumor biology as well as health care access could be at play.

Stress and racial disparities in health

A new study conducted by researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) show that African Americans and U.S-born Hispanics have higher levels of stress than whites and foreign-born Hispanics. Multiple stressors correlate with poor physical/mental health, with financial & relationship stressors exhibiting the largest and most consistent effects.

The researchers believe that this stress helps to explain why these groups often have poorer health than whites.