Food Allergy and Intolerance

Question 1

What can the two adverse reactions of food be divided into?

Answer 1

Food allergy (immune mechanisms)
Food intolerance (non-immune)

Question 2

What two mechanisms may mediate food allergies?

Answer 2

Immunoglobulin E (IgE)
Non IgE -> T-Cell mediated

Question 3

What things are adults most likely to be allergic to and what things are kids most likely?

Answer 3

Adults - fish, shellfish and peanuts

Children - cow’s milk, egg white, soy, wheat

Question 4

What 5 conditions can result from food allergy?

Answer 4

1. Acute hypersensitivity - hives, rash, vomiting, diarrhoea
2. Eczema and asthma
3. Rhinitis and asthma
4. Chronic urticaria (hives)
5. Food sensitive enteropathy (T-Cell mediated)- intestinal disease like coeliac disease (gluten/wheat sensitive enteropathy) and cow’s milk enteropathy

Question 5

What 5 conditions can results from a food intolerance?

Answer 5

1. Migraine - chocolate, cheese and alcohol rich in amines - people on monoamine oxidase inhibitors are vulnerable
2. IBS -
3. Chinese restaurant syndrome - monosodium glutamate used as a flavour enhancer in chinese cooking may cause dizziness, sweating, fainting, nausea, chest pains
4. Lactose intolerance - Abdominal bloating and diarrhoea
5. Phenylketonuria - lack of phenylalanine hydroxylase enzyme required for phenylalanine metabolism

Question 6

What are the 3 mechanisms that could cause a food intolerance?

Answer 6

1. Food constituent e.g. histamine in mackerel or canned food
2. Chemical mediators released by food e.g. histamine may be released by tomatoes or strawberries
3. By toxic chemicals found in food e.g. additive tartrazine