Posts Tagged ‘food allergy’

If I’m sensitive to gluten, can I eat corn or oats?

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

This becomes an important question when someone realizes how much they benefit from avoiding gluten due to celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity. The evidence suggests that corn (maize) has to be considered on an individual basis. It is possible, but not certain, that you may react to corn when you are sensitive to wheat gluten.

GUTConsider this study that was published in the journal GUT, An International Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. The authors investigated how nitric oxide is part of the intestinal inflammatory reaction reaction to gluten, and how it relates to the white blood cell response. They noted this in their conclusion:

“Mucosal activation of neutrophils and eosinophils [white blood cells] precedes pronounced enhancement of mucosal NO [nitric oxide] production after rectal wheat gluten challenge in patients with coeliac disease. Some of our coeliac patients displayed signs of an inflammatory reaction, as measured by NO and granulocyte markers, after rectal corn gluten challenge.”

So it depends on the individual. The more serious your condition the more important it is to check yourself for corn sensitivity with the immunological ‘gold standard’—a properly managed elimination-provocation protocol.

Scandinavian Journal of GastroenterologyWe are also bereft of a perfectly decisive indication  for oats because rare individuals can react, though this study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology indicates that most celiac patients can tolerate them. First the authors note that…

“We have…identified three adult coeliac disease patients who developed a flare of active coeliac disease after ingestion of oats, which suggests that oats might not be entirely innocent in coeliac disease.”

They set out to compare the immune response to oats and wheat by comparing production of the main intestinal antibody (IgA) that participates in the reaction. Although other immune activity was observed,…

“No significant differences were found in IgA against oats in oats-eating and non-oats-eating coeliac disease patients.”

Their conclusion:

“Ingestion of oats does not cause increased levels of IgA against oats in adult coeliac disease patients on a gluten-free diet. The findings support the notion that most adult coeliac disease patients can tolerate oats.”

Note the “most”. And even if you are not sensitive to oats, it is important to be sure that they are certified gluten-free. Otherwise they can be contaminated with gluten during storage, transport, processing and packaging.

What about blood tests for food allergies? Too many variables influence antibody tests for them to give a reliable indication. If you have a serious condition with an autoimmune basis, it’s best to consult with a functional medicine practitioner who can  help you through an elimination-provocation protocol (eliminating and re-introducing foods), and who knows how to use objective lab tests to profile your immune imbalance.

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Food allergy is not just a pediatric disease

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

GerontologyIt may come as a surprise to you there are many who consider food allergy primarily a pediatric problem, which of course is incorrect. “Epidemiologic studies report an increase in food allergies in industrialized countries, but mainly focus on children and young adults. This leads to the impression that food allergies do not occur in the older population.” This paper published in the journal Gerontology shows why food allergy is a major problem for the older population too. As the authors state, age-related changes dramatically affect both the innate as well as the adaptive immune system – a phenomenon known as immunosenescence.” They go on to detail why we can acquire food allergies later in life, which include the use of acid-blocking ulcer drugs: Deficiencies in micronutrients, especially zinc and iron, as well as vitamin D, in the elderly may also contribute to the development of allergies. A further risk factor of the elderly in developing food allergies could also be the decreased digestive ability of the stomach due to atrophic gastritis or anti-ulcer medication. In these settings, undigested proteins may persist and become allergenic. In fact, mouse models indicate that these pharmaceuticals support the induction of Th2 responses not only in young adult, but also in aged animals.” The authors conclude, “Previous reports have already suggested that allergies are underdiagnosed among the elderly. Based on our own recent study conducted in a geriatric nursing home, we also suggest that food allergies may be underestimated.”

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Most doctors are not comfortable diagnosing food allergies

Tuesday, January 19th, 2010

PediatricsFood allergy and food sensitivity are common aggravating factors for chronic inflammation of many kinds. If you think food allergy or sensitivity may be contributing to your problems, be sure to find a doctor who has the right knowledge and experience. This paper just published in the journal Pediatrics examined 407 primary care physicians for their knowledge and confidence about food allergy. The authors report that “…only 24% knew that oral food challenges may be used in the diagnosis of food allergy, 12% correctly rejected that chronic nasal problems are not symptom of food allergy, and 23% recognized that yogurts/cheeses from milk are unsafe for children with immunoglobulin E–mediated milk allergies.” Their polite conclusion: “Knowledge of food allergy among primary care physicians was fair. Opportunities for improvement exist, as acknowledged by participants’ own perceptions of their clinical abilities in the management of food allergy.”

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Food allergy increase among children

Saturday, December 12th, 2009

Although these two papers, both published in the journal Pediatrics, don’t clarify the distinction between increase in incidence and increase in detection, they give you a sense for how weighty an issue this is:

  1. Food Allergy Among Children in the United States
  2. The Changing Face of Childhood Celiac Disease in North America

Bear in mind that this the tip of the iceberg. These studies depended on antibody testing. Because of  factors that can cause antibodies to not be detected many diagnoses are missed (the ‘gold standard’ is the elimination-provocation protocol). An assessment of most common childhood disorders is not complete without determining whether food allergy or sensitivity is among the contributing causes.

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