EuroPrevall analyses distribution of food sensitisation

There is limited information on the comparative prevalence of sensitisation to food allergens using standardized methods around the world. A group of EuroPrevall researchers have recently published findings from their study of more than 4,500 adults from 13 Western countries.

Participants included randomly selected young adults seen during the second phase of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey. The study involved testing sera from each individual with five food mixes, and if positive, subsequent tests included each individual food that comprised each mix.

Prevalence of sensitisation to any of the 24 food allergens ranged from almost 25% in Portland (USA) to just under 8% in Reykjavik (Iceland). With few exceptions, the relative prevalence of sensitization to different foods was similar in all countries. Sensitisation rates to egg, fish and milk among those tested were each less than 1%.

Results showed that rates of food sensitisation was variable across the regions, with findings from the USA, Germany, Italy and Norway indicating there is a high prevalence of allergies in those countries (around 22%). Results from individuals in other countries including Spain, Iceland, Britain and France indicated a lower prevalence of allergies (11-14%). Of the foods included in the testing, hazelnuts, peaches, shrimps, wheat and apples appeared to be the greatest causes of food sensitivity.

The patterns of food sensitisation across countries appeared to be more consistent than would be expected by chance. Exactly why countries were similar in the patterns of food sensitivity is not clear but suggest that specific foods consumed in the average diet in each nation do not determine the prevalence of allergies.

Unexpectedly, the research did not determine a clear relationship between prevalence of airborne allergen sensitivity and prevalence of food sensitivity in each country.

Reference: Burney et al. 2010. Allergy. DOI: 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2010.02346.x.