Post by blackcrowheart on Dec 5, 2005 12:46:33 GMT -5
Are Food Allergies a Growing Threat?
Doctors Debate the Risks of Common Food Allergies
By MARC LALLANILLA
Nov. 28, 2005 — - An increasing number of children
have developed allergies to peanuts and other common
foods, and finding the cause for this rise has doctors
going nuts.
The death Monday of a Canadian teenager who kissed her
boyfriend after he had eaten a peanut butter snack
underscores the severity of this growing problem.
"The frequency of people dying from peanut allergies
is not all that high, but when it does happen, it
certainly is tragic," said Dr. Miles Weinberger,
director of the Pediatric Allergy and Pulmonary
Division of the University of Iowa Department of
Pediatrics.
According to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma
and Immunology, peanut allergies in children increased
twofold from 1997 to 2002. Some studies suggest about
four percent of the U.S. population -- more than 11
million people -- have food allergies. Ten years ago,
that figure was believed to be only one percent.
But some researchers say an increasing awareness is
causing a spike in reports of allergies. Other
scientists believe the reason for the increase lies in
the way peanuts are prepared. Still others believe
children are exposed to too few allergens in their
youth. Who's right?
Boiling Versus Roasting
Most peanuts in the United States are dry-roasted at
high temperatures. It is the high roasting
temperatures, some believe, that causes problems by
changing the protein structure. "The dry-roasting
process makes these peanuts more allergenic,"
Weinberger said.
A report in the June 2001 Journal of Allergy and
Clinical Immunology found that frying or boiling
peanuts, as practiced in China, appeared to reduce the
allergenicity of peanuts compared with dry roasting.
According to the study's authors, this may explain the
different rates of peanut allergy seen in the United
States and China.
"Asians predominantly eat boiled peanuts," Weinberger
said. "Asians have a much lower incidence of peanut
allergies."
Are Kids Today Too Clean?
A growing body of research finds that children raised
in clean, urban settings are more likely to develop
allergies than children raised in rural areas or
farming communities.
The "hygiene hypothesis" holds that children exposed
to allergens and microbes at an early age develop a
greater tolerance for those allergens, and are
therefore less likely to suffer from asthma or
allergies.
Are "hygienic" environments to blame for a rise in
food allergies?
"The most likely explanation is [the] hygiene
hypothesis," said Dr. Donald Leung, an allergy
specialist at National Jewish Medical and Research
Center in Denver.
But Weinberger says the hygiene hypothesis is
questionable. "At this point, it's generally regarded
as intriguing but controversial. For every example,
you can find other examples where it's not so."
And proponents of this hypothesis risk ignoring an
important point: "Infections used to kill many more
people than allergies," said Dr. Amal Assa'ad,
professor and clinical director of the allergy and
immunology division at the Cincinnati Children's
Hospital Medical Center.
Allergy Awareness May Be Driving Statistics Upward
Parents and doctors alike are increasingly aware of
asthma and allergies. But is this awareness fueling
the statistical increase in reported allergies more
than any actual increase in allergies?
"There is no clear evidence for the increase in number
of children allergic to peanuts other than the above
mentioned study," said Assa'ad, referring to the AAAAI
study. "There is definitely increased awareness."
Assa'ad believes news coverage may be partly
responsible for the rise in reported cases of
allergies. "Anytime there's more media coverage, then
there is increased awareness," she said.
As in many aspects of allergy research, there are
differing points of view.
"We are seeing a great deal of food allergy,"
Weinberger said. "But I can't tell if it represents a
large increase, or if this is simply more referrals
because of our interest and expertise with regard to
food allergy."
Copyright © 2005 ABC News Internet Ventures
© Disclaimer:
Material appearing here is distributed without profit
or monetary gain to those who have expressed an
interest in viewing the material for research and
educational purposes.This is in accordance with Title
17 U. S. C. section 107.Reprinted under the Fair Use
doctrine of international copyright
law.http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html
Non-profit/Teaching/Educational.
Doctors Debate the Risks of Common Food Allergies
By MARC LALLANILLA
Nov. 28, 2005 — - An increasing number of children
have developed allergies to peanuts and other common
foods, and finding the cause for this rise has doctors
going nuts.
The death Monday of a Canadian teenager who kissed her
boyfriend after he had eaten a peanut butter snack
underscores the severity of this growing problem.
"The frequency of people dying from peanut allergies
is not all that high, but when it does happen, it
certainly is tragic," said Dr. Miles Weinberger,
director of the Pediatric Allergy and Pulmonary
Division of the University of Iowa Department of
Pediatrics.
According to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma
and Immunology, peanut allergies in children increased
twofold from 1997 to 2002. Some studies suggest about
four percent of the U.S. population -- more than 11
million people -- have food allergies. Ten years ago,
that figure was believed to be only one percent.
But some researchers say an increasing awareness is
causing a spike in reports of allergies. Other
scientists believe the reason for the increase lies in
the way peanuts are prepared. Still others believe
children are exposed to too few allergens in their
youth. Who's right?
Boiling Versus Roasting
Most peanuts in the United States are dry-roasted at
high temperatures. It is the high roasting
temperatures, some believe, that causes problems by
changing the protein structure. "The dry-roasting
process makes these peanuts more allergenic,"
Weinberger said.
A report in the June 2001 Journal of Allergy and
Clinical Immunology found that frying or boiling
peanuts, as practiced in China, appeared to reduce the
allergenicity of peanuts compared with dry roasting.
According to the study's authors, this may explain the
different rates of peanut allergy seen in the United
States and China.
"Asians predominantly eat boiled peanuts," Weinberger
said. "Asians have a much lower incidence of peanut
allergies."
Are Kids Today Too Clean?
A growing body of research finds that children raised
in clean, urban settings are more likely to develop
allergies than children raised in rural areas or
farming communities.
The "hygiene hypothesis" holds that children exposed
to allergens and microbes at an early age develop a
greater tolerance for those allergens, and are
therefore less likely to suffer from asthma or
allergies.
Are "hygienic" environments to blame for a rise in
food allergies?
"The most likely explanation is [the] hygiene
hypothesis," said Dr. Donald Leung, an allergy
specialist at National Jewish Medical and Research
Center in Denver.
But Weinberger says the hygiene hypothesis is
questionable. "At this point, it's generally regarded
as intriguing but controversial. For every example,
you can find other examples where it's not so."
And proponents of this hypothesis risk ignoring an
important point: "Infections used to kill many more
people than allergies," said Dr. Amal Assa'ad,
professor and clinical director of the allergy and
immunology division at the Cincinnati Children's
Hospital Medical Center.
Allergy Awareness May Be Driving Statistics Upward
Parents and doctors alike are increasingly aware of
asthma and allergies. But is this awareness fueling
the statistical increase in reported allergies more
than any actual increase in allergies?
"There is no clear evidence for the increase in number
of children allergic to peanuts other than the above
mentioned study," said Assa'ad, referring to the AAAAI
study. "There is definitely increased awareness."
Assa'ad believes news coverage may be partly
responsible for the rise in reported cases of
allergies. "Anytime there's more media coverage, then
there is increased awareness," she said.
As in many aspects of allergy research, there are
differing points of view.
"We are seeing a great deal of food allergy,"
Weinberger said. "But I can't tell if it represents a
large increase, or if this is simply more referrals
because of our interest and expertise with regard to
food allergy."
Copyright © 2005 ABC News Internet Ventures
© Disclaimer:
Material appearing here is distributed without profit
or monetary gain to those who have expressed an
interest in viewing the material for research and
educational purposes.This is in accordance with Title
17 U. S. C. section 107.Reprinted under the Fair Use
doctrine of international copyright
law.http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html
Non-profit/Teaching/Educational.