Unit 17 - Food Allergies and Intolerances

What are allergies that infants often outgrow?

- Cow's milk, wheat and eggs

What test is used most often to show if someone is allergic to something?

- Double-blind, placebo-controlled test

Skin prick tests

- For absence of food allergy only - positive results do not prove an allergy exists

Immunoglobin E (IgE) Test

- IgE protein produced in response to an allergen - IgE test does not identify allergen

MSG (monosodium glutamate)

- a flavor enhancer used on meats and in soups, stews, and many Chinese food items - referred to as "Chinese restaurant syndrome" - sensitivity causes dizziness, sweating, flushing, rapid heartbeat, and ringing in the ears

Anaphylactic shock (definition)

- a massive reaction of the immune system that can result in death - people can be saved by an ingestion of epinephrine

Wheat Allergy (Celiac Disease)

- autoimmune disease - characterized by inflammation of the small-intestine lining resulting from a genetic gluten intolerance - causes diarrhea, fatty stools, weight loss, vitamin and mineral deficiencies - treated with a gluten-free diet

True food allergies

- can cause a spectrum of problems from a rash or an upset stomach to death

Unreal food allergies

- can cause people to eliminate nutritious foods from their diet unnecessarily, resulting in inadequate diets and health problems

Histamine (definition)

- caused dilation of blood vessels, itching, hives, and a drop in blood pressure, and stimulates the release of stomach acids and other fluids

Lactose maldigestion

- characterized by reduced digestion of lactose due to low availability of the enzyme lactase

Allergens

- components of food that trigger the immune system - genetically susceptible people experience an allergic reaction by exposure to even trace amounts of an allergen trigger

Double-blind, placebo-controlled test

- determines the presence of a food allergy or other adverse reaction to a food - neither patient nor care provider knows whether the suspected food or a placebo is tested - the test must be administered under medical supervision

Symptoms of Food Intolerances:

- fatigue, joint pain, diarrhea, vomiting, bloating and rashes

Symptoms of lactose intolerance:

- flatulence - bloating - abdominal pain - diarrhea - "rumbling in the bowel"

Sulfite (definition)

- food additive that has been used by food manufactures to keep vegetables and fruits looking fresh and to prevent mold growth - also added to some beers, wines, processed foods, and medications as a preservative

Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004

- helps consumers with food allergies find offending foods and ingredients - food ingredient labels are not required to state clearly whether the food contains one or more of the big eight allergenic foods

Food Intolerances cont...

- people with food intolerance can usually tolerate a small to moderate amount of the specific food, and develop symptoms only when the food is eaten frequently or in large amounts

Food Intolerances

- produce some of the same reactions as food allergies, but the reactions develop by different mechanisms - do not directly involve the immune system - due to a missing or abnormal enzyme or other cause - more common than food allergies, and the onset of symptoms is usually slower

What do most allergic reactions contain?

- rash, diarrhea, congestion, and wheezing

In what foods are histamines found that can cause migraine headaches in sensitive people?

- red wine, beer, sardines, anchovies, hard cured sausages, pickled cabbage, spinach, catsup

Antibodies (definition)

- signal the body to secrete histamine causing the physical signs of allergic reaction

Bogus tests

- some companies offer food allergy tests though the mail, but they tend to be unreliable

What happens in the response to allergens?

- the immune system prompts the formation of antibodies - when the exposure happens again, the antibodies recognize the allergen

Treatment of Food Allergies:

- the only treatment is to eliminate the food from the diet - allergy shots are not yet available - Medical ID bracelets or necklaces are recommended

When can foods be labeled as "gluten-free"?

- when they contain less than 20 parts per million of gluten

What percentage of the population does Celiac Disease effect?

1%

3 Primary reasons people experience adverse reactions to food:

1. Food poisoning 2. Food allergies in which the body's immune system reacts to a substance in food that it identifies as harmful 3. Food intolerances, which are other adverse reactions to normally harmless substances in food - the immune system is not involved

What percentage of the general public believe that they are allergic to one or more foods?

20-30%

What percentage of humans does lactose maldigestion occur in?

65%

What is the incidence in food allergies estimated to be in adults and children?

Adults - 3% Children - 6%

What is the gold standard diagnostic test for celiac disease?

Small bowel biopsy and examination of cells for signs of damage due to the disease.