Prevalence Of Tree Nut Allergy Research Articles

Prevalence of tree nut allergy in Europe: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

In 2014, the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) published the first systematic review that summarized the prevalence of food allergy (FA) and food sensitization in Europe for studies published 2000-2012. However, only summary estimates for tree nut allergy (TNA) were feasible in that work. In the current update of that systematic review, we summarized the prevalence of tree nut allergy/sensitization to individual tree nuts. Six databases were searched for relevant papers published 2012-2021 and 17 eligible studies were added to the 15 studies already identified between 2000 and 2012, giving a total of 32 studies. Of the investigated tree nuts, meta-analysis was possible for hazelnut, walnut, almond, and in few cases, for cashew, and Brazil nut. The lifetime self-reported prevalence was 0.8% (95% CI 0.5-1.1) for hazelnut and 0.4% (0.2-0.9) for walnut. The point self-reported prevalence was 4.0% (2.9-5.2) for hazelnut, 3.4% (2.0-4.9) for Brazil nut, 2.0% (1.1-2.9) for almond, and 1.8% (1.1-2.5) for walnut. Point prevalence of food challenge-confirmed TNA was 0.04% (0.0-0.1) for hazelnut and 0.02% (0.01-0.1) for walnut. Due to paucity of data, we could not identify any meaningful and consistent differences across age groups and European regions.

Epicutaneous immunotherapy protects cashew-sensitized mice from anaphylaxis.

BackgroundThe prevalence of tree nut allergy has increased worldwide, and cashew has become one of the most common food allergens. More critically, cashew allergy is frequently associated with severe anaphylaxis. Despite the high medical need, no approved treatment is available and strict avoidance and preparedness for prompt treatment of allergic reactions are considered dual standard of care. In the meantime, Phase III study results suggest investigational epicutaneous immunotherapy (EPIT) may be a relevant and safe treatment for peanut allergy and may improve the quality of life for many peanut allergic children.ObjectiveWe aimed to evaluate the capacity of EPIT to provide protection against cashew‐induced anaphylaxis in a relevant mouse model.MethodsThe efficacy of EPIT was evaluated by applying patches containing cashew allergens to cashew‐sensitized mice. As negative control, sham mice received patches containing excipient. Following treatment, mice were challenged orally to cashew and anaphylactic symptoms, as well as plasmatic levels of mast‐cell proteases (mMCP)‐1/7, were quantified.ResultsOf 16 weeks of EPIT significantly protects against anaphylaxis by promoting a faster recovery of challenged mice. This protection was characterized by a significant reduction of temperature drop and clinical symptoms, 60 minutes after challenge. This was associated with a decrease in mast‐cell reactivity as attested by the reduction of mMCP‐1/7 in plasma, suggesting that EPIT specifically decrease IgE‐mediated anaphylaxis.ConclusionWe demonstrate that EPIT markedly reduced IgE‐mediated allergic reactions in a mouse model of cashew allergy, which suggests that EPIT may be a relevant approach to treating cashew allergy.

Patterns of Tree Nut Sensitization and Allergy in the First 6 Years of Life in a Population–Based Cohort

To determine the prevalence of tree nut allergy at age 6 years and investigate the relationship between egg and peanut allergy at age 1 year and tree nut allergy at age 6 years to guide testing and introduction advice.This study included infants recruited between 11 and 15 months for the longitudinal HealthNuts study in Melbourne, Australia.At entry, all subjects underwent skin prick testing (SPT) to egg, peanut, and sesame. At age 1 year, egg and peanut allergy were determined by oral food challenge. SPT to tree nuts (almond, cashew, hazelnut) was performed, and parental history of symptoms with tree nut ingestion was obtained. Those with negative SPT results were advised to introduce tree nuts at home; avoidance was recommended for those with positive SPT results. At age 6 years, a questionnaire was administered, SPT was performed, and tree nut allergy was assessed by food challenge.Five thousand two hundred seventy-sixchildren participated in the HealthNuts study at age 1. One thousand one hundred fourteen (21%) underwent additional evaluation, including SPT for tree nuts. At age 1 year, 6 parents (0.1%) reported a history consistent with tree nut allergy. Among those with challenge-confirmed egg or peanut allergy at age 1 year, 41% were already sensitized to 1 or more tree nuts, with an even higher rate in those with both allergies. At age 6, the prevalence of tree nut allergy was 3.3%, with cashew being the most common trigger, followed by hazelnut and almond. Forty-three percent of those with any tree nut allergy had peanut allergy. Of those with peanut allergy, 45% reacted to 1 or more tree nuts, most commonly cashew. In examining predictors of tree nut allergy, 14% of those with egg allergy at age 1 year, 27% of those with peanut allergy at age 1, and 37% of those with both egg and peanut allergy at age 1 had tree nut allergy at age 6 years.There is a low parent-reported rate of tree nut allergy at age 1 year, likely due to low tree nut consumption in the first year of life. However, 33% of those with peanut allergy and 41% of those with peanut or egg allergy are already sensitized to 1 or more tree nuts at age 1, with a higher rate in those with allergy to both foods. More than one-third of those with tree nut sensitization at age 1 are allergic to 1 or more tree nuts at age 6. Almost half of those with both peanut and egg allergy at age 1 have tree nut allergy at age 6. The prevalence of tree nut allergy at age 6 (3.3%) is similar to that of peanut allergy (2.8%), with cashew being the most common tree nut allergen.This study reports a high rate of tree nut sensitization and potential for allergy in those with egg and/or peanut allergy at age 1 and highlights the need to investigate the best approach to tree nut evaluation in those with known food allergy as well as strategies to prevent tree nut allergy in this at-risk population.

Almond Allergy: An Overview on Prevalence, Thresholds, Regulations and Allergen Detection.

Food allergy has been on the increase for many years. The prevalence of allergy to different foods varies widely depending on type of food, frequency of consumption and geographic location. Data from the literature suggests that the prevalence of tree nut allergy is of the order of 1% in the general population. Almond is one such tree nut that is frequently eaten in many parts of the world and represents a potential allergenic hazard. Given the need to label products that contain allergens, a number of different methods of direct and indirect detection have been developed. However, in the absence of population-based threshold data, and given that almond allergy is rare, the sensitivity of the required detection is unknown and thus aims as low as possible. Typically, this is less than 1 ppm, which matches the thresholds that have been shown for other allergens. This review highlights the lack of quantitative data on prevalence and thresholds for almonds, which is limiting progress in consumer protection.

Patterns of tree nut sensitization and allergy in the first 6 years of life in a population-based cohort

Longitudinal population-based data regarding tree nut allergy are limited. We sought to determine the population prevalence of tree nut allergy at age 6years and explore the relationship between egg and peanut allergy at age 1year and development of tree nut allergy at age 6years. A population-based sample of 5276 children was recruited at age 1year and followed up at age 6years. At age 1year, allergies to egg and peanut were determined by means of oral food challenge, and parents reported their child's history of reaction to tree nuts. Challenge-confirmed tree nut allergy was assessed at age 6years. At age 1year, the prevalence of parent-reported tree nut allergy was 0.1% (95% CI, 0.04% to 0.2%). Only 18.5% of infants had consumed tree nuts in the first year of life. At age 6years, challenge-confirmed tree nut allergy prevalence was 3.3% (95% CI, 2.8% to 4.0%), with cashew the most common (2.7%; 95% CI, 2.2% to 3.3%). Of children with peanut allergy only at age 1year, 27% (95% CI, 16.1% to 39.7%) had tree nut allergy at age 6years compared with 14% (95% CI, 10.4% to 17.9%) of those with egg allergy only and 37% (95% CI, 27.2% to 47.4%) of those with both peanut and egg allergy. Tree nut allergy is uncommon in the first year of life, likely because of limited tree nut consumption. At age 6years, tree nut allergy prevalence is similar to peanut allergy prevalence. More than a third of children with both peanut and egg allergy in infancy have tree nut allergy at age 6years. Understanding how to prevent tree nut allergy should be an urgent priority for future research.

Tree nut allergens

Tree nuts are considered as part of a healthy diet due to their high nutritional quality. However, they are also a potent source of allergenic proteins inducing IgE mediated hypersensitivity often causing serious, life-threatening reactions. The reported prevalence of tree nut allergy is up to 4.9% worldwide. The general term “tree nuts” comprises a number of nuts, seeds, and drupes, derived from trees from different botanical families. For hazelnut and walnut several allergens have been identified which are already partly applied in component resolved diagnosis, while for other tree nuts such as macadamia, coconut, and Brazil nut only individual allergens were identified and data on additional allergenic proteins are missing. This review summarizes the current knowledge on tree nut allergens and describes their physicochemical and immunological characterization and clinical relevance.

The Prevalence of Tree Nut Allergy: A Systematic Review.

Tree nuts are one of the most common foods causing acute allergic reactions and nearly all tree nuts have been associated with fatal allergic reactions. Despite their clinical importance, tree nut allergy epidemiology remains understudied and the prevalence of tree nut allergy in different regions of the world has not yet been well characterised. We aimed to systematically review the population prevalence of tree nut allergy in children and adults. We searched three electronic databases (OVID MEDLINE, EMBASE and PubMed) from January 1996 to December 2014. Eligible studies were categorised by age, region and method of assessment of tree nut allergy. Of the 36 studies identified most were in children (n = 24) and from Europe (n = 18), UK (n = 8) or USA (n = 5). Challenge-confirmed IgE-mediated tree nut allergy prevalence was less than 2 % (although only seven studies used this gold standard) while probable tree nut allergy prevalence ranged from 0.05 to 4.9 %. Prevalence estimates that included oral allergy syndrome (OAS) reactions to tree nut were significantly higher (8-11.4 %) and were predominantly from Europe. Prevalence of individual tree nut allergies varied significantly by region with hazelnut the most common tree nut allergy in Europe, walnut and cashew in the USA and Brazil nut, almond and walnut most commonly reported in the UK. Monitoring time trends of tree nut allergy prevalence (both overall and by individual nuts) as well as the prevalence of OAS should be considered given the context of the overall recent rise in IgE-mediated food allergy prevalence in the developed world.

Hazelnut Allergens: Molecular Characterization, Detection, and Clinical Relevance

In last few years, special attention has been given to food-induced allergies, in which hazelnut allergy is highlighted. Hazelnut is one of the most commonly consumed tree nuts, being largely used by the food industry in a variety of processed foods. It has been regarded as a food with potential health benefits, but also as a source of allergens capable of inducing mild to severe allergic reactions in sensitized individuals. Considering the great number of reports addressing hazelnut allergens, with an estimated increasing trend, this review intends to assemble all the relevant information available so far on the following main issues: prevalence of tree nut allergy, clinical threshold levels, molecular characterization of hazelnut allergens (Cor a 1, Cor a 2, Cor a 8, Cor a 9, Cor a 10, Cor a 11, Cor a 12, Cor a 14, and Cor a TLP) and their clinical relevance, and methodologies for detection of hazelnut allergens in foods. A comprehensive overview of the current data about the molecular characterization of hazelnut allergens is presented, relating to biochemical classification and biological function with clinical importance. Recent advances in hazelnut allergen detection methodologies are summarized and compared, including all the novel protein-based and DNA-based approaches.

Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Food Allergy in the United States: Summary of the NIAID-Sponsored Expert Panel Report

Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Food Allergy in the United States: Summary of the NIAID-Sponsored Expert Panel Report

Arachide, fruits secs oléagineux : réalité clinique, conséquences sociales

The frequency of allergic reactions to peanut and tree nuts has increased. The cumulated prevalence of peanut allergy is high, 0.5 to 1.2% in American and Western European children; the prevalence of tree nut allergy is 0.5%. Allergic reactions to peanut and tree nuts can be life threatening. This problem is widely discussed in the media. Sensitization to tree nuts should be investigated in children with allergy to peanut or to any other nut. Evaluation of the patient must take into account the clinical data and the results of skin tests, specific IgE assays and labial provocation tests. The decision of whether to perform a provocation challenge should be individualized. Children, particularly adolescents, at risk for severe reactions include those with multiple allergies, asthma, especially uncontrolled asthma, or facilitating factors such as drugs (including aspirin), alcohol and exercice. At present, prevention calls for avoidance of peanuts and tree nuts. Global management and careful education are essential and should be tailored to each child and its family. Management of severe food allergies must be comprehansive and must consist of more than just epinephrine.