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Food allergy in Asia: how does it compare?
Alison Joanne Lee1, Meera Thalayasingam, Bee Wah Lee
1Department of Paediatrics, Khoo Teck Puat National University Children's Medical Institute, National University Hospital, Singapore 119228, Singapore.
Asia Pacific Allergy
|February 14, 2013
Summary
Food allergy prevalence in Asia is similar to the West, but allergen types differ significantly. Shellfish is common, while peanut allergy is rare, with regional variations in wheat allergy.
Area of Science:
- Allergy and Immunology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Asia's large, diverse population offers unique insights into food allergy patterns.
- Understanding regional food allergy differences is crucial for public health.
- Existing literature comparing Asian and Western food allergy prevalence requires synthesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and compare food allergy literature from Asia with Western populations.
- To identify common food allergens and patterns in Asia.
- To highlight regional variations in food allergy prevalence and triggers.
Main Methods:
- A systematic PubMed search was conducted using keywords related to food allergy and anaphylaxis in Asia.
- Fifty-three articles published between 2005 and 2012 were reviewed.
- Data were analyzed to compare prevalence and allergen types across Asian countries and with Western data.
Main Results:
- Overall food allergy prevalence in Asia is comparable to Western countries.
- Shellfish allergy is the most prevalent in Asia, linked to seafood consumption and potentially house dust mite tropomyosin sensitization.
- Peanut allergy is notably rare in Asia, contrasting sharply with Western data. Wheat allergy is a significant cause of anaphylaxis in Japan and Korea.
Conclusions:
- Significant differences exist in food allergy types and prevalence between Asia and the West, and within Asia.
- Shellfish and wheat allergies present unique patterns in Asia.
- Further research into environmental risk factors is needed to explain these observed differences in food allergy.
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