Food Allergy--Lessons from Asia

OBJECTIVE : This is a review on published data available on food allergy in East Asia and a discussion on the insights that it offers. METHODS : PubMed searches were made for terms food allergy and anaphylaxis, in combination with Asia. RESULTS : There is a paucity of population-based prevalence studies on food allergy in Asia. Certain unique food allergens, such as buckwheat, chestnuts, chickpeas, bird's nest, and royal jelly, which are consumed extensively by certain Asian populations have resulted in clinical food allergy of little importance in other populations. Crustacean shellfish is of importance in this region relative to other common food allergens. The high consumption of these foods and possibly coupled with cross-reactive tropomyosins from dominant inhalant dust mite and cockroach allergens in this region may explain this phenomenon. In contrast, the prevalence of peanut allergy is relatively low in this region. The reasons for this difference are not apparent. However, this may be a reflection of the general reduced propensity in this region to allergic diseases as seen with asthma. CONCLUSIONS : Further research on food allergy in Asia is warranted because it offers unique opportunities to further our understanding on the influence of population and environment.