Food Allergies Caused by Allergenic Lipid Transfer Proteins: What Is behind the Geographic Restriction?

Abstract

To critically examine evidence suggesting that food allergy induced by lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) follows a geographic pattern. LTP syndrome remains most common in the Mediterranean basin, with a clear gradient seen in prevalence of LTP sensitization between northern and southern Europe. We hypothesize that high levels of birch pollen seem to protect against LTP allergy, as these higher levels correlate with a lower prevalence of LTP hypersensitivity. Nevertheless, LTP food allergy cases still appear in areas having a high environmental level of birch pollen. Food allergy caused by LTP may be related to (1) primary sensitization to a food LTP allergen in the absence of pollinosis, (2) primary sensitization to LTP from a pollen source, and (3) co-sensitization to LTP from pollen and food.