Prevalence of pistachio allergy higher in pistachio producing regions

Monday, 20 June 2011 10:51

Iran is a major pistachio cultivation region in the world. Researchers there have determined the prevalence of pistachio nut allergy is twice as much in regions where pistachios are cultivated than in other areas.

The study also addressed the presence of cross-reactivity between pistachio and other nuts, including almond, peanut, and cashew in pistachio allergic patients. Pistachio allergic people in these regions appear to have greater co-sensitivities with other nuts, including cashew and almond. The researchers found the plant taxonomic classification of pistachio and other tree nuts had no significant association with allergenic cross-reactivity.

Reference: Noorbakhsh et al. 2011. Allergology International DOI:10.2332/allergolint.10-OA-0222.