Antacids May Trigger Food Allergies

[Guest guest]

Thought this may be of interest to some.

 

Chris

 

 

 

Antacids May Trigger Food Allergies

Celiac.com 03/16/2004 - According to Dr. Erika Jensen-Jarolim, professor of

medicine and immunology at the University of Vienna, there may be a connection

between the development of food allergies and the use of antacids. Dr.

Jensen-Jarolim presented her team’s preliminary findings at the World Allergy

Congress on September 10, 2003. Individuals who take medications that reduce or

neutralize the acidity in the stomach may be at a higher risk of developing food

allergies, possibly caused by normally harmless food proteins passing in tact

through the digestive system. Normally acid and pepsin break down food proteins

before they pass into the digestive tract, and if Dr. Jensen-Jarolim is

correct, interrupting this process could cause serious, lifelong consequences.

Dozens of over the counter and prescription medications suppress acid production

or

neutralize it.

The Austrian research team conducted experiments on mice which were fed

hazelnut proteins and other allergens. The normal group of mice did not develop

allergies to these foods, while mice that were given the ulcer drugs omeprazole

(Prilosec) or ranitidine (Zantac) with the foods they ate did develop allergies

to those foods. The animal results were further backed by data on 153 human

patients who are taking part in a Hungarian acid-suppression therapy study.

One interesting finding in their study was that mice only developed food

allergies in response to novel foods that were introduced, not to their regular

daily diets. Since an estimated ten percent of the population is taking

acid-suppression/neutralization medications, Dr. Jensen-Jarolim recommends that

these

people should not try eating any novel foods during their treatment.