AI Summary
A recent review of food allergy studies from 2021-2023 highlights the increasing burden of food allergies in developing countries, stabilization in Europe and other developed regions, and promising research on the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of food allergies. Factors such as environmental changes, genetics, and prevalence are explored, with specific attention paid to the role of nonspecific lipid transfer proteins (nSLTP) in Europe, Latin America, China, and Japan. The role of genetics, particularly human leukocyte antigens (HLAs), is also discussed. Hospital admissions for anaphylaxis related to food allergies have increased, with nuts and cow milk allergies being the leading cause of death.
A comprehensive review of food allergy (FA)-related studies published between 2021 and 2023 is currently in press with the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. This article highlights the increasing burden of FA in the developing world, gradual stabilization in Europe and other developed regions, and promising research into the mechanisms that cause FA and its diagnosis and treatment.
Study: Feast for Thought: A Comprehensive Review of Food Allergy 2021-2023. Image Credit: Yavdat / Shutterstock
Environmental factors, genetics, and prevalence of FA
The incidence of FA has historically been more common in urban areas and developed nations, with one estimate suggesting that the pooled lifetime prevalence is as high as 19.9% in Europe. Nonspecific lipid transfer proteins (nSLTP) are the most common cause of FA in Southern Europe and are becoming more widespread across the rest of Europe, Latin America, China, and Japan.
Environmental changes and ethnicity may have a joint role in the development of FA, as indicated by an estimated FA prevalence of 15% among Australian children with Asian heritage compared with 1.1% for those with Singaporean heritage. Studies on the role of genetics have identified human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) that are associated with certain FAs, such as single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs9277630 and HLA-DPB1*02:01:02 for wheat allergies.
Hospital admissions for FA-related anaphylaxis have risen sharply over time, with this reaction disproportionately affecting teenage and younger children. While the number of fatalities has remained stable, nuts and cow milk allergies are the leading cause of death from FA-induced anaphylaxis.