Review of lupin allergy

Monday, 23 August 2010 09:45

Unlike the United States, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, European food labelling regulations have required a declaration of the presence of lupin in foodstuffs since the allergen labelling legislation was introduced in 2006. Researchers in Spain have recently reviewed and summarised the data currently available on allergy to lupin.

Cross-reactivity between lupin and peanut has been widely reported, yet the proteins responsible for such cross-reactivity have not been adequately identified and characterised. New structural studies are needed to clearly identify the allergens responsible for isolated lupin sensitisation in relation to parallel and/or cross-sensitization between lupin and peanut. Most of the allergenic proteins of lupin are alpha- and beta-conglutins. The major allergen of lupin is thought to be a beta-conglutin corresponding to Lup an 1, and it has been found to have a sequence similar to Ara h 1, a major allergen in peanut.

Reference: Sanz et al. 2010. Clinical and Experimental Allergy. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2010.03590.x