Common Food Allergens (common + food_allergen)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Evaluation and standardisation of different matrices used for double-blind placebo-controlled food challenges to fish

JOURNAL OF HUMAN NUTRITION & DIETETICS, Issue 5 2010
E. Vassilopoulou
Abstract Background:, Fish allergens represent one of the most common causes of adverse reactions to food worldwide. Double-blind placebo-controlled food challenges (DBPCFC) are the gold standard for food allergy diagnosis. However, no standardised recipes are available for common food allergens such as fish, and a well trained dietitian is essential for creating and standardising them. The present study aimed to create and standardise recipes for use in DBPCFCs to fish. Methods:, Three recipes were prepared. Employing a standardised procedure, a total of 35 panelists evaluated the different matrices using an evaluation form. A paired comparison test was used to estimate total evaluation's outcome. Fish allergic patients were challenged with different fish species blinded with the selected matrix and evaluated the recipe using the same form. Results:, From a base recipe and step-by-step modifications, a low fat recipe was selected among other recipes tested, which proved to be appropriate for fish blinding, in terms of taste, odour, appearance and blinding. Patients challenged with the final matrix found it acceptable, no matter which fish type was used. Conclusions:, In this pilot study, a recipe with satisfactory organoleptic characteristics was developed and validated for DBPCFC to fish. [source]


Comparison of ADVIA Centaur® and Pharmacia UniCAP® tests in the diagnosis of food allergy in children with atopic dermatitis

PEDIATRIC ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 7 2007
Cécile Contin-Bordes
In a study comprising 63 children diagnosed with atopic dermatitis, the results of the ADVIA Centaur system was compared with the results obtained with the Pharmacia UniCAP100 system, which has been widely considered as a reference method for seric specific IgE (sIgE) measurements. The individual immunization against the most common food allergens [egg (f1), cow milk (f2), cod (f3), wheat (f4), peanut (f13) and soy bean (f14)] was determined by in vitro serum IgE testing and skin prick test (SPT). The comparison of the sIgE titers revealed a good concordance between the Centaur and the UniCAP tests for f1, f3, and f13 (94 %, 91 %, and 96 % respectively). However, the concordance was lower for f2, f4, and f14 (76 %, 77 %, and 77 % respectively) because of discrepancies between the two techniques. When compared with SPT and clinical diagnosis, on the 40 discordant cases found between the Centaur and the UniCAP, the Centaur showed concordance with the patients food reaction and SPT in 34/40 cases, and UniCAP in only 6/40 cases. Accordingly, the Centaur test displayed a statistically significantly better performance on specificity and concordance with SPT for f2, f4, and f14 (concordance/specificity = 70%/71%, 76%/75% and 90%/88% respectively), than the CAP test (49%/54%, 51%/52% and 67%/65% respectively). [source]


Comparison of food allergy prevalence among Chinese infants in Chongqing, 2009 versus 1999

PEDIATRICS INTERNATIONAL, Issue 5 2010
Yan Hu
Abstract Background:, Food allergy prevalence is increasing in developed countries, but these results have not yet been verified in developing countries, especially in China. Our aim was to determine whether the prevalence and characteristics of food allergy have changed over the last 10 years in Chongqing, China. Methods:, Two cross-sectional studies were performed, 10 years apart (1999 and 2009) using the same diagnostic methods in the same age group (0,24 months) of the same clinic in Chongqing, China. A total of 401 infants were randomly selected for the present study. Food allergy was confirmed by food challenge. spss 15.0 was used to analyze the difference in prevalence. Results:, Food allergy prevalence increased significantly from 3.5% in 1999 to 7.7% in 2009 (P= 0.017). The prevalence of a positive skin-prick-test response was also increased (from 9.9% to 18%; P= 0.002). Egg and cow's milk were still the most common food allergens, which cause skin and gastrointestinal symptoms in most infants. Conclusion:, This is the first study in China to indicate time trends in food allergy prevalence and characteristics. Our data show that in the 10-year period from 1999 to 2009, the prevalence of food allergy seems to have increased in China. [source]


How do teenagers manage their food allergies?

CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 10 2010
H. Monks
Summary Background The peak incidence of deaths from anaphylaxis associated with nut allergy occurs in teenagers and young adults. During adolescence, the management of food allergy shifts from being the responsibility of parents to that of the young person. This is a group who therefore need special attention in the clinic. Objective This study aimed to understand the practical challenges that teenagers with food allergy experience using a qualitative approach and generate potential interventions for tackling these. Methods Teenagers aged 1118 years with food allergy completed a questionnaire about their food allergy and underwent a focused, semi-structured interview with open questions guided by a priori topic areas. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using a thematic approach. Results The study enrolled 18 teenagers with a median age of 15 years (10 females); the most common food allergens were peanuts and tree nuts. Three key themes emerged: avoidance of allergens, preparation for reactions and the treatment of reactions. The majority of teenagers reported eating foods labelled as ,may contain' an allergen as they perceive that they are actually very unlikely to contain an allergen. Many of the teenagers only carried their self-injectable adrenaline when they thought they are particularly at risk of a reaction. Some do not know how to appropriately treat an allergic reaction. More than half believed that educating other students at school about the seriousness of food allergies would make it easier to live with their food allergy. Conclusions A significant number of teenagers demonstrate risk-taking behaviour in the management of their food allergies. Teenagers also felt it would be helpful for their peers to be educated about food allergy. This novel strategy might help them to avoid trigger foods and enable teenagers to access help more readily if they suffer a reaction. Cite this as: H. Monks, M. H. Gowland, H. MacKenzie, M. Erlewyn-Lajeunesse, R. King, J. S. Lucas and G. Roberts, Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2010 (40) 1533,1540. [source]