Understanding watermelon allergy

Tuesday, 14 April 2009 20:39

Allergy to watermelon has been associated with allergy to other foods such as cucumber, carrot and celery, the latter of which is one of the major substances requiring allergy labelling when present in foods sold in the European Union. An increased prevalence of allergy to watermelon has also been documented in those with latex allergy. Researchers in Spain have recently conducted a study to identify and characterize the major allergens in watermelon.

The study participants comprised twenty-three patients who were diagnosed as allergic to watermelon based on a history of symptoms and positive skin prick-prick tests to watermelon, confirmed by positive open oral challenge testing to watermelon pulp. Several IgE binding bands from watermelon extract were identified, purified and characterised in watermelon extract. The three major allergens identified were malate dehydrogenase (36 kDa), triose phosphate isomerase (28 kDa) and profilin (13 kDa).

Reference: Pastor et al. 2009.  International Archives in Allergy & Immunology.  Vol 149(4), pp. 291-298.