Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Epidemiology and Food Hypersensitivity

  • Chapter
Allergy Frontiers: Epigenetics, Allergens and Risk Factors

Part of the book series: Allergy Frontiers ((ALLERGY,volume 1))

Food hypersensitivity (FHS) has attracted much awareness over the last three decades and the general public perceives FHS as a major health problem. A revised nomenclature for allergy has recently been published as a position paper by the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) [1]. Generally, hypersensitivity causes objectively reproducible symptoms or signs, initiated by exposure to a defined stimulus at a dose tolerated by normal subjects [1]. Allergy is a hypersensitivity reaction initiated by immunologic mechanisms, whereas sensitization just reflects presence of specific antibodies to an allergen. Allergens are antigens with the capacity to bind IgE (and IgG) antibodies [1].

FHS is subdivided into toxic reactions and non-toxic reactions [2]. Toxic reactions typically reflect contamination (e.g., bacterial), whereas non-toxic reactions are subdivided into immune mediated and non-immune-mediated reactions [1, 2].

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 229.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Johansson SG, Hourihane JO, Bousquet J, et al (2001) A revised nomenclature for allergy.An EAACI position statement from the EAACI nomenclature task force.Allergy 56:813–824

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Bruijnzeel-Koomen C, Ortolani C, Aas K, et al (1995) Adverse reactions to food.European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology Subcommittee.Allergy 50:623–635

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Young E, Stoneham MD, Petruckevitch A, et al (1994) A population study of food intolerance.Lancet 343:1127–1130

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Briggs D, Aspinall L, Dickens A, et al (2001) Statistical model for assessing the proportion of subjects with subjective sensitisations in adverse reactions to foods.Allergy 56:83–85

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Jansen JJ, Kardinaal AF, Huijbers G, et al (1994) Prevalence of food allergy and intolerance in the adult Dutch population.J Allergy Clin Immunol 93:446–456

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Høst A, Husby S, Osterballe O (1998) A prospective study of cow's milk allergy in exclusively breast-fed infants.Incidence, pathogenetic role of early inadvertent exposure to cow's milk formula, and characterization of bovine milk protein in human milk.Acta Paediatr Scand 77:663–670

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Skolnick HS, Conover-Walker MK, Koerner CB, et al (2001) The natural history of peanut allergy.J Allergy Clin Immunol 107:367–374

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Hourihane JO, Roberts SA, Warner JO (1998) Resolution of peanut allergy: case—control study.BMJ 316:1271–1275

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Ford RP, Taylor B (1982) Natural history of egg hypersensitivity.Arch Dis Child 57: 649–652

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Zuberbier T, Edenharter G, Worm M, et al (2004) Prevalence of adverse reactions to food in Germany—a population study.Allergy 59:338–345

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Schafer T, Bohler E, Ruhdorfer S, et al (2001) Epidemiology of food allergy/food intolerance in adults: associations with other manifestations of atopy.Allergy 56:1172–1179

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Roehr CC, Edenharter G, Reimann S, et al (2004) Food allergy and non-allergic food hyper-sensitivity in children and adolescents.Clin Exp Allergy 34:1534–1541

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Venter C, Pereira B, Grundy J, et al (2006) Prevalence of sensitization reported and objectively assessed food hypersensitivity amongst six-year-old children: a population-based study.Pediatr Allergy Immunol 17:356–363

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Jones SM, Magnolfi CF, Cooke SK, et al (1995) Immunologic cross-reactivity among cereal grains and grasses in children with food hypersensitivity.J Allergy Clin Immunol 96:341–351

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Osterballe M, Hansen TK, Mortz CG, et al (2005) The clinical relevance of sensitization to pollen-related fruits and vegetables in unselected pollen-sensitized adults.Allergy 60:218–225

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Pereira B, Venter C, Grundy J, et al (2005) Prevalence of sensitization to food allergens, reported adverse reaction to foods, food avoidance, and food hypersensitivity among teenagers.J Allergy Clin Immunol 116:884–892

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Venter C, Pereira B, Grundy J, et al (2006) Incidence of parentally reported and clinically diagnosed food hypersensitivity in the first year of life.J Allergy Clin Immunol 117:1118–1124

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Bindslev-Jensen C, Ballmer-Weber BK, Bengtsson U, et al (2004) Standardization of food challenges in patients with immediate reactions to foods—position paper from the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology.Allergy 59:690–697

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Ortolani C, Ispano M, Pastorello EA, et al (1989) Comparison of results of skin prick tests (with fresh foods and commercial food extracts) and RAST in 100 patients with oral allergy syndrome.J Allergy Clin Immunol 83:683–690

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Bock SA (1987) Prospective appraisal of complaints of adverse reactions to foods in children during the first 3 years of life.Pediatrics 79:683–688

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Mortz CG, Andersen KE, Bindslev-Jensen C (2005) The prevalence of peanut sensitization and the association to pollen sensitization in a cohort of unselected adolescents—The Odense Adolescence Cohort Study on Atopic Diseases and Dermatitis (TOACS).Pediatr Allergy Immunol 16:501–506

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. de Martino M, Novembre E, Cozza G, et al (1988) Sensitivity to tomato and peanut allergens in children monosensitized to grass pollen.Allergy 43:206–213

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Grundy J, Matthews S, Bateman B, et al (2002) Rising prevalence of allergy to peanut in children: data from 2 sequential cohorts.J Allergy Clin Immunol 110:784–789

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Kagan RS, Joseph L, Dufresne C, et al (2003) Prevalence of peanut allergy in primary-school children in Montreal, Canada.J Allergy Clin Immunol 112:1223–1228

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Osterballe M, Bindslev-Jensen C (2003) Threshold levels in food challenge and specific IgE in patients with egg allergy: is there a relationship? J Allergy Clin Immunol 112:196–201

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Sampson HA (2001) Utility of food-specific IgE concentrations in predicting symptomatic food allergy.J Allergy Clin Immunol 107:891–896

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Boyano MT, Garcia-Ara C, Diaz-Pena JM, et al (2001) Validity of specific IgE antibodies in children with egg allergy.Clin Exp Allergy 31: 1464–1469

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Saarinen KM, Juntunen-Backman K, Jarvenpaa AL, et al (1999) Supplementary feeding in maternity hospitals and the risk of cow's milk allergy: a prospective study of 6209 infants.J Allergy Clin Immunol 104: 457–461

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Høst A, Halken S (1990) A prospective study of cow milk allergy in Danish infants during the first 3 years of life.Clinical course in relation to clinical and immunological type of hyper-sensitivity reaction.Allergy 45:587–596

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Eggesbo M, Botten G, Halvorsen R, et al (2001) The prevalence of allergy to egg: a population-based study in young children.Allergy 56:403–411

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Osterballe M, Hansen TK, Mortz CG, et al (2005) The prevalence of food hypersensitivity in an unselected population of children and adults.Pediatr Allergy Immunol 16:567–573

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Ortolani C, Ispano M, Pastorello E, et al (1988) The oral allergy syndrome.Ann Allergy 61:47–52

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Fernandez-Rivas M, van Ree R, Cuevas M (1997) Allergy to Rosaceae fruits without related pollinosis.J Allergy Clin Immunol 100:728–733

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Cuesta-Herranz J, Lazaro M, Martinez A, et al (1999) Pollen allergy in peach-allergic patients: sensitization and cross-reactivity to taxonomically unrelated pollens.J Allergy Clin Immunol 104:688–694

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Simon RA (1986) Sulfite sensitivity.Ann Allergy 56:281–288

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Bush RK, Taylor SL, Holden K, et al (1986) Prevalence of sensitivity to sulfiting agents in asthmatic patients.Am J Med 81:816–820

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Delohery J, Simmul R, Castle WD, et al (1984) The relationship of inhaled sulfur dioxide reactivity to ingested metabisulfite sensitivity in patients with asthma.Am Rev Respir Dis 130:1027–1032

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Boxer MB, Bush RK, Harris KE, et al (1988) The laboratory evaluation of IgE antibody to metabisulfites in patients skin test positive to metabisulfites.J Allergy Clin Immunol 82:622–626

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Selner j, Bush RK (1987) Skin reactivity to sulfite and sensitivity to sulfited foods in a sulfite sensitive asthmatic.J Allergy Clin Immunol 79:241

    Google Scholar 

  40. Simon RA (1998) Update on sulfite sensitivity.Allergy 53:78–79

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Peroni DG, Boner AL (1995) Sulfite sensitivity.Clin Exp Allergy 25:680–681

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Woessner KM, Simon RA, Stevenson DD (1999) Monosodium glutamate sensitivity in asthma.J Allergy Clin Immunol 104:305–310

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Tarasoff L, Kelly MF (1993) Monosodium L-glutamate: a double-blind study and review.Food Chem Toxicol 31:1019–1035

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Allen DH, Delohery J, Baker G (1987) Monosodium L-glutamate-induced asthma.J Allergy Clin Immunol 80:530–537

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Schwartzstein RM, Kelleher M, Weinberger SE, et al (1987) Airway effects of monosodium glutamate in subjects with chronic stable asthma.J Asthma 24: 167–172

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Geha R, Buckley CE, Greenberger P, et al (1993) Aspartame is no more likely than placebo to cause urticaria/angioedema: results of a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study.J Allergy Clin Immunol 92:513–520

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Stevenson DD, Simon RA, Lumry WR, et al (1986) Adverse reactions to tartrazine.J Allergy Clin Immunol 78:182–191

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Baldwin JL, Chou AH, Solomon WR (1997) Popsicle-induced anaphylaxis due to carmine dye allergy.Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 79:415–419

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Chung K, Baker JR, Baldwin JL, et al (2001) Identification of carmine allergens among three carmine allergy patients.Allergy 56:73–77

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Wuthrich B, Kagi MK, Stucker W (1997) Anaphylactic reactions to ingested carmine (E120).Allergy 52:1133–1137

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Fuglsang G, Madsen C, Saval P, et al (1993) Prevalence of intolerance to food additives among Danish school children.Pediatr Allergy Immunol 4:123–129

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Young E, Patel S, Stoneham M, et al (1987) The prevalence of reaction to food additives in a survey population.J R Coll Physicians Lond 21:241–247

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Vanek-Krebitz M, Hoffmann-Sommergruber K, Laimer Da Camara MM, et al (1995) Cloning and sequencing of Mal d 1, the major allergen from apple (Malus domestica), and its immu-nological relationship to Bet v 1, the major birch pollen allergen.Biochem Biophys Res Commun 214:538–551

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Ebner C, Hirschwehr R, Bauer L, et al (1995) Identification of allergens in fruits and vegetables: IgE cross-reactivities with the important birch pollen allergens Bet v 1 and Bet v 2 (birch profilin).J Allergy Clin Immunol 95:962–969

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Hirschwehr R, Valenta R, Ebner C, et al (1992) Identification of common allergenic structures in hazel pollen and hazelnuts: a possible explanation for sensitivity to hazelnuts in patients allergic to tree pollen.J Allergy Clin Immunol 90:927–936

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Breiteneder H, Hoffmann-Sommergruber K, O'Riordain G, et al (1995) Molecular characterization of Api g 1, the major allergen of celery (Apium graveolens), and its immunological and structural relationships to a group of 17-kDa tree pollen allergens.Eur J Biochem 233:484–489

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Pastorello EA, Vieths S, Pravettoni V, et al (2002) Identification of hazelnut major allergens in sensitive patients with positive double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge results.J Allergy Clin Immunol 109:563–570

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Kleine-Tebbe J, Vogel L, Crowell DN, et al (2002) Severe oral allergy syndrome and anaphy-lactic reactions caused by a Bet v 1- related PR-10 protein in soybean, SAM22.J Allergy Clin Immunol 110:797–804

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Andersen KE, Lowenstein H (1978) An investigation of the possible immunological relationship between allergen extracts from birch pollen, hazelnut, potato and apple.Contact Dermatitis 4:73–79

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Gall H, Kalveram KJ, Forck G, et al (1994) Kiwi fruit allergy: a new birch pollen-associated food allergy.J Allergy Clin Immunol 94:70–76

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Jensen-Jarolim E, Santner B, Leitner A, et al (1998) Bell peppers (Capsicum annuum) express allergens (profilin, pathogenesis-related protein P23 and Bet v 1) depending on the horticultural strain.Int Arch Allergy Immunol 116:103–109

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  62. Altman DR, Chiaramonte LT (1996) Public perception of food allergy.J Allergy Clin Immunol 1996 97:1247–1251

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  63. Brugman E, Meulmeester JF, Spee-van dW, et al (1998) Prevalence of self-reported food hypersensitivity among school children in The Netherlands.Eur J Clin Nutr 52:577–581

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. Eggesbo M, Halvorsen R, Tambs K, et al (1999) Prevalence of parentally perceived adverse reactions to food in young children.Pediatr Allergy Immunol 10:122–132

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  65. Kanny G, Moneret-Vautrin DA, Flabbee J, et al (2001) Population study of food allergy in France.J Allergy Clin Immunol 108:133–140

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  66. De Vries TW, Wierdsma N, van Ede J, et al (2001) Dieting in children referred to the paediatric outpatient clinic.Eur J Pediatr 160:595–598

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  67. Woods RK, Stoney RM, Raven J, et al (2002) Reported adverse food reactions overestimate true food allergy in the community.Eur J Clin Nutr 56:31–36

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  68. Rance F, Grandmottet X, Grandjean H (2005) Prevalence and main characteristics of schoolchildren diagnosed with food allergies in France.Clin Exp Allergy 35:167–172

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  69. Gerrard JW, MacKenzie JW, Goluboff N, et al (1973) Cow's milk allergy: prevalence and manifestations in an unselected series of newborns.Acta Paediatr Scand 234:1–21

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  70. Halpern SR, Sellars WA , Johnson RB, et al (1973) Development of childhood allergy in infants fed breast, soy, or cow milk.J Allergy Clin Immunol 51:139–151

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  71. Jakobsson I, Lindberg T (1979) A prospective study of cow's milk protein intolerance in Swedish infants.Acta Paediatr Scand 68:853–859

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  72. Hide DW, Guyer BM (1983) Cows milk intolerance in Isle of Wight infants.Br J Clin Pract 37:285–287

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  73. Schrander JJ, van den Bogart JP, Forget PP, et al (1993) Cow's milk protein intolerance in infants under 1 year of age: a prospective epidemiological study.Eur J Pediatr 152:640–644

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  74. Tariq SM, Stevens M, Matthews S, et al (1996) Cohort study of peanut and tree nut sensitisa-tion by age of 4 years.BMJ 313:514–517

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  75. Sicherer SH, Munoz-Furlong A, Burks AW, et al (1999) Prevalence of peanut and tree nut allergy in the US determined by a random digit dial telephone survey.J Allergy Clin Immunol 103:559–562

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  76. Emmett SE, Angus FJ, Fry JS, et al (1999) Perceived prevalence of peanut allergy in Great Britain and its association with other atopic conditions and with peanut allergy in other household members.Allergy 54:380–385

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  77. Eggesbo M, Botten G, Halvorsen R, et al (2001) The prevalence of CMA/CMPI in young children: the validity of parentally perceived reactions in a population-based study.Allergy 56:393–402

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  78. Sicherer SH, Munoz-Furlong A, Sampson HA (2004) Prevalence of seafood allergy in the United States determined by a random telephone survey.J Allergy Clin Immunol 114: 159–165

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  79. Bircher AJ, Van Melle G, Haller E, et al (1994) IgE to food allergens are highly prevalent in patients allergic to pollens, with and without symptoms of food allergy.Clin Exp Allergy 24:367–374

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  80. Eriksson NE (1978) Food sensitivity reported by patients with asthma and hay fever.A relationship between food sensitivity and birch pollen-allergy and between food sensitivity and acetylsalicylic acid intolerance.Allergy 33:189–196

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  81. Hannuksela M, Lahti A (1977) Immediate reactions to fruits and vegetables.Contact Dermatitis 3:79–84

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  82. Ebner C, Birkner T, Valenta R, et al (1991) Common epitopes of birch pollen and apples—studies by western and northern blot.J Allergy Clin Immunol 88:588–594

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Aarhus University Hospital, P.P., Ørumsgade 11, Aarhus C, 8000, Denmark

    Morten Osterballe

Authors
  1. Morten Osterballe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan

    Ruby Pawankar

  2. Childrens's Mercy Hospital & Clinic, 2401 Gillham RD, Kansas city, MO, USA

    Stephen T. Holgate

  3. Southampton General Hospital, University of Southampton, Tremona Road, Southampton, UK

    Lanny J. Rosenwasser

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2009 Springer

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Osterballe, M. (2009). Epidemiology and Food Hypersensitivity. In: Pawankar, R., Holgate, S.T., Rosenwasser, L.J. (eds) Allergy Frontiers: Epigenetics, Allergens and Risk Factors. Allergy Frontiers, vol 1. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-72802-3_9

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-72802-3_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Tokyo

  • Print ISBN: 978-4-431-72801-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-4-431-72802-3

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation