Content:
Causes of Allergy to Cabbage
Symptoms
Cabbage allergy cross reactivity
Diagnostics
Treatment
Just today I got into a conversation with my friend on the topic: is there an allergy to cabbage or not. And so I chop the cabbage and think. I have been interested in allergology for a long time and it would seem that I should know the answers to such questions. I went to find out.
In general, we do not know much about cabbage and we do not take it seriously as an allergen. The color is green, the taste is not spicy – it means not an allergen.
But the proteins of the plant provoke allergies, and they do not depend on taste and color.
Probably the wild ancestor of cabbage grew on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Cabbage appeared in the diet of Homo Sapiens back in the Stone Age. In ancient Greece, up to 10 types of cabbage were known. And Pythagoras respected cabbage for its medicinal properties and tried to develop new varieties.
The juice of cabbage leaves was used to treat stomach and duodenal ulcers, gastritis and liver diseases.
It would be appropriate to remember here that modern doctors also firmly believe in cabbage. Different specialists, in different clinics, and at different times offered me a cabbage leaf for a cold, and for bronchitis, and for back pain.
Have you heard about the skits (cabbage festival in Russian)? The Slavs chopped cabbage for harvesting at the end of September. Then the workers were waiting for two weeks of merry festivities, which were called skits.
In general, cabbage is a healthy vegetable, valuable and, unfortunately, allergenic.
Causes of Allergy to Cabbage
- Weed pollen allergy (cross reaction);
- Allergy to products from the Cruciferous family;
- The body’s response to LTP proteins (lipid carrier proteins), eg peach LTP (Pru p3);
- Atopic dermatitis, eczema. Proteins – allergens enter the bloodstream through inflamed skin.
Cabbage Allergy Symptoms
Most often, an allergic person suffers from food allergy symptoms. Although cabbage allergies are rare, reactions can be severe.
Oral Allergic Syndrome (OAS)
- tingling of the tongue and lips;
- itching of the mouth;
- ear itching;
- sore throat;
- edema.
Gastrointestinal manifestations
- abdominal pain;
- diarrhea;
- nausea.
Skin rashes
- contact urticaria;
- exacerbation of atopic dermatitis;
- redness on the body;
- small itchy acne.
Bronchial asthma
- labored breathing;
- cough;
- wheezing;
- bronchospasm.
Quincke’s edema (angioedema)
Cabbage allergy cross reactivity
White cabbage (garden) belongs to Brassica oleracea family. An allergic reaction can be expected from any plant in this family.
- broccoli;
- savoy cabbage;
- Beijing (Chinese) cabbage;
- cauliflower;
- kohlrabi;
- mustard;
- horseradish;
- turnip;
- radish;
- rape;
- radish;
- swede.
Protein
Bra o 3 is a lipid transfer protein (LTP). One of the main proteins is cabbage allergens. This protein does not lose its allergenicity during heat treatment. It can cause violent reactions of the body even to well-cooked cabbage soup.
LTP protein can cross-react with LTP proteins in other plant foods.
Sauerkraut and pickled cabbage can provoke pseudo-allergic reactions, since it is a product with a high content of histamine (histaminolibrator).
Diagnostics
- Your story is a history;
- Blood test by ImmunoCap method;
- Component molecular diagnostics (Allergy test ISAC , ALEX Allergy Explorer test, Allergo Expert 300) – will help to determine the protein to which the body reacts;
- Skin tests (double prick test with the product);
- Food diary;
- Test diet;
- Provocative test;
- IgG 4 to food proteins is not informative. According to EAACI, a positive result is not a marker of allergy or pseudo-allergy. Link to document.
- DTC (Mast Cell Degranulation) – not informative, not prescribed in developed countries.
Allergy treatment
Depending on the symptoms and diagnosis, the allergist will prescribe the right diet and prescribe medications (antihistamines, hormones).
If the tests show a positive result, and there are no symptoms in life, a diet is not needed.