Abstract
SummaryIron deficiency is associated with atopy. Iron deficiency during pregnancy increases the risk of atopic diseases in children, while both allergic children and adults are more likely to have iron deficiency anemia. Immunologically, iron deficiency leads to activation of antigen-presenting cells, promotion of Th2 cells and enables antibody class switch in B cells. In addition, iron deficiency primes mast cells for degranulation, while an increase in their iron content inhibits their degranulation. Many allergens, especially those with lipocalin and lipocalin-like protein structures, are able to bind iron and either deprive or supply this trace element to immune cells. Thus, a local induced iron deficiency will result in immune activation and allergic sensitization. However, lipocalin proteins such as the whey protein β‑lactoglobulin (BLG) can also transport micronutrients into the defense cells (holo-BLG: BLG with micronutrients) and hinder their activation, thereby promoting tolerance and protecting against allergy. Since 2019, several clinical trials have also been conducted in allergic subjects using holo-BLG as a supplementary balanced diet, leading to a reduction in symptom burden. Supplementation with holo-BLG specifically supplied defense cells with micronutrients such as iron and therefore represents a new dietary approach to compensate for functional iron deficiency in allergy sufferers.
Highlights
It is still unclear why the defense system of atopic subjects reacts so excessively to environmental triggers that their risk of developing allergies is increased
Drinking of raw milk, with high whey content, is a known independent factor that protects against allergy development [5]. Of micronutrients such as vitamin D [6], β-carotenoids— which are precursors of vitamin A—[7] as well as a deficiencies of iron and folate are associated with atopy [1, 8,9,10,11]
Allergy can only develop when concurrent to allergen exposure (1) a Th2 dominance prevails, which is characterized by the release of Th2-associated mediators such as interleukin-4 and (2) the antibody-producing B cells perform a class switch towards immunglobulin E (IgE)-antibody production
Summary
It is still unclear why the defense system of atopic subjects reacts so excessively to environmental triggers that their risk of developing allergies is increased. K mini-review empty, whereas functional iron deficiency means that the iron reserves are not exhausted, but these iron reserves cannot be mobilized and are not accessible for cellular functions [1] This situation is often encountered in cancer patients and in people with chronic inflammation. Several studies demonstrated that that the improved iron status of the expectant mother [8, 13,14,15,16] went along with a reduced risk of developing atopic dermatitis or asthma in the children. In all the epidemiological and clinical studies, iron deficiency is a constant companion of atopic individuals and contributes to their increased risk to develop allergy
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