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Unlocking the mystery of tomato allergies

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It is nearly impossible today to not know someone with a food allergy.  Research coming out of Spain from the University of Madrid has identified two proteins in the seeds of tomatoes as being responsible for allergic reactions.  Tomato allergies are rare but when they do occur histamines are released into exposed areas such as the skin, nose, respiratory, and digestive tracts leading to an allergic reaction.  Depending on the severity of the reaction the consequences could lead to a medical emergency.   It is this histamine reaction as to why anti-histamines are usually prescribed for an allergic reaction.

tomato_closeupThe two proteins identified were Sola I 6 and Sola I 7 which are nonspecific lipid (i.e. fat) transporters in a cell.  Induction of an immune reaction was observed following a skin prick test using these purified proteins.  The authors suggest, “This present identification is undoubtedly going to clarify the diagnosis of tomato allergy.”  Time will tell, however, this research does help unmask the mystery of tomato allergies.

Allergies to tomatoes do put a person as a higher risk of having an allergic reaction to other plants that are in the same family.   More specifically, tomatoes are in the nightshade family which also include a number of plants that we are familiar with.

Nightshade plants include:

  • tomatoes
  • potatoes
  • aubergines
  • peppers
  • chili peppers
  • tobacco
  • the deadly nightshade Atropa Belladona

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=26840232

Jeremy Johnson, PharmD, PhD
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Categories: Food