rgy or intolerance reactions to foods that are associated with specific pollen or latex allergies. For example, ragweed allergy is associated with a higher risk of food allergy or intolerance to melons and bananas. Birch tree pollen allergy is associated with sensitivity to many foods, especially those in the Rosacea family (apples, pears) and nuts (hazelnut, almond, walnut), potato, or carrot. Reactions can include skin rash (atopic dermatitis), wheezing (asthma), runny nose (allergic rhinitis), classic OAS or other food intolerance symptoms.

Individuals who suspect food allergy or intolerance are encouraged to review the food-pollen connection, undergo appropriate evaluations for gluten sensitivity, cow’s milk (casein) protein sensitivity, lactose intolerance, food allergy and consider having genetic testing done. After an adequate evaluation, I encourage a baseline symptom assessment with detailed food symptom diary before a trial of elimination diet. An elimination diet that excludes major food lectins (dairy, grain, legumes, and nightshades) and any foods from the pollen list that they are allergic to ought to be considered before accepting diagnoses of IBS

Can genetics explain if you are allergic to some pollens or foods? A few obscure articles have made that link. HLA DQ and DR genes have been associated with risks of pollen, dust, and latex allergies as well as food allergies. This intriguing information appears to have been largely ignored. As "the food doc", I continue to search the literature to identify information about food allergy and intolerance. My search has led to me to a couple of interesting articles in the unusual area of oral allergy syndrome (OAS) or the relationship between nasal allergies and food allergies. Do we need to avoid eating certain foods if we have hay fever or allergies, especially during the hay fever season?

Boehncke, et. al., from the University of Frankfurt reported in 1998 that certain HLA class II genotypes or HLA DQ and DR genetic patterns were found in more people with certain pollen associated food allergies. HLA-DQB1*0301 was present in more people with grass pollen allergy but those with HLA-DRB1*08 linked with a grass pollen allergy had six times the increased risk of peanut allergy and those with HLA-DRB1*12 were 13 times higher at risk for carrot allergy. Birch pollen associated hazel nut allergy was linked to HLA-DRB1*01, DQA1*0101, and DQB1*0501. Hazel nut, almond, walnut and apple were the most common food allergies associated with birch tree pollen. Allergies to those foods have been commonly associated with birch tree pollen in many other studies. The intriguing part of the story is that their may be an advantage to knowing your HLA DR and DQ type when evaluating your risk for pollen allergies and pollen associated food allergies.

More recently, in 2004, Wang et.al. from China published that DQA1*0302 was higher in people with Artemisia pollen-induced allergic rhinitis or hayfever due to Mugwort or Sagebrush weeds. Mugwort allergy is associated with several food allergies including apple, celery, hazelnut, pistachio, lettuce, almond, peanut, and carrots.

As the “the food doc”, I explain in more detail in my articles on the genetics of gluten sensitivity that we all have proteins on the surface of our cells that are genetically determined. These patterns are easily detectable by testing cells from blood or from the mouth obtained by a Q-tip type swab. Specific patterns have been associated with increased risk for autoimmune conditions, gluten sensitivity and celiac disease. HLA DQ2 is present in more than 90% of people who have celiac disease while HLADQ8 is present in most of the rest, though not all people with celiac have been found to have DQ2 and/or DQ8. Now it appears certain DQ or DR patterns are associated with food and pollen allergies as well.

There are three commercial labs that I am aware of that offer full HLA DQ typing. They are Quest Laboratories, The Laboratory at Bonfils in Denver, and Enterolab. Bonfils runs the Enterolab genetics on Q-tip swabs of the mouth as well as offering the testing of blood samples sent to them from other labs. In the future such testing may be very helpful in evaluation of suspected food allergy or intolerance as well as pollen allergies. In the meantime continued research will be anxiously awaited by those of us interested in this interesting story.

Dr. Fine, Enterolab, previously published HLA DQ patterns associated with microscopic colitis. He found microscopic changes in the colon or large intestine that was similar if not identical to what is seen in the small intestine in celiac disease. Several articles have now documented gluten free diet response in people with microscopic, lymphocytic and collagenous colitis as well in some people with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Findings of intraepithelial lymphocytosis in the distal small intestine( terminal ileum) has been associated with increased incidences of celiac disease in the proximal small intestine.

Now, adding to the intrigue is these few articles linking certain gene patterns to pollen allergy and the food allergy cross reactions that are well recognized but rarely pursued clinically. Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS), also called the “burning mouth syndrome”, occurs in many people but frequently goes undiagnosed. Symptoms include burning, painful and/or itching sensation of mouth or throat with or without swelling that occurs almost immediately after eating certain foods that are commonly associated with pollen, latex or dust allergies. This unusual association of tree, grass, and weed pollens, and latex and house dust mite allergies to food reactions, though well documented in the medical literature, is not commonly recognized by doctors or patients.

The OAS literature is replete with many reports of food allergy or intolerance reactions to foods that are associated with specific pollen or latex allergies. For example, ragweed allergy is associated with a higher risk of food allergy or intolerance to melons and bananas. Birch tree pollen allergy is associated with sensitivity to many foods, especially those in the Rosacea family (apples, pears) and nuts (hazelnut, almond, walnut), potato, or carrot. Reactions can include skin rash (atopic dermatitis), wheezing (asthma), runny nose (allergic rhinitis), classic OAS or other food intolerance symptoms.

Individuals who suspect food allergy or intolerance are encouraged to review the food-pollen connection, undergo appropriate evaluations for gluten sensitivity, cow’s milk (casein) protein sensitivity, lactose intolerance, food allergy and consider having genetic testing done. After an adequate evaluation, I encourage a baseline symptom assessment with detailed food symptom diary before a trial of elimination diet. An elimination diet that excludes major food lectins (dairy, grain, legumes, and nightshades) and any foods from the pollen list that they are allergic to ought to be considered before accepting diagnoses of IBS,

associated hazel nut allergy was linked to HLA-DRB1*01, DQA1*0101, and DQB1*0501. Hazel nut, almond, walnut and apple were the most common food allergies associated with birch tree pollen. Allergies to those foods have been commonly associated with birch tree pollen in many other studies. The intriguing part of the story is that their may be an advantage to knowing your HLA DR and DQ type when evaluating your risk for pollen allergies and pollen associated food allergies.

More recently, in 2004, Wang et.al. from China published that DQA1*0302 was higher in people with Artemisia pollen-induced allergic rhinitis or hayfever due to Mugwort or Sagebrush weeds. Mugwort allergy is associated with several food allergies including apple, celery, hazelnut, pistachio, lettuce, almond, peanut, and carrots.

As the “the food doc”, I explain in more detail in my articles on the genetics of gluten sensitivity that we all have proteins on the surface of our cells that are genetically determined. These patterns are easily detectable by testing cells from blood or from the mouth obtained by a Q-tip type swab. Specific patterns have been associated with increased risk for autoimmune conditions, gluten sensitivity and celiac disease. HLA DQ2 is present in more than 90% of people who have celiac disease while HLADQ8 is present in most of the rest, though not all people with celiac have been found to have DQ2 and/or DQ8. Now it appears certain DQ or DR patterns are associated with food and pollen allergies as well.

There are three commercial labs that I am aware of that offer full HLA DQ typing. They are Quest Laboratories, The Laboratory at Bonfils in Denver, and Enterolab. Bonfils runs the Enterolab genetics on Q-tip swabs of the mouth as well as offering the testing of blood samples sent to them from other labs. In the future such testing may be very helpful in evaluation of suspected food allergy or intolerance as well as pollen allergies. In the meantime continued research will be anxiously awaited by those of us interested in this interesting story.

Dr. Fine, Enterolab, previously published HLA DQ patterns associated with microscopic colitis. He found microscopic changes in the colon or large intestine that was similar if not identical to what is seen in the small intestine in celiac disease. Several articles have now documented gluten free diet response in people with microscopic, lymphocytic and collagenous colitis as well in some people with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Findings of intraepithelial lymphocytosis in the distal small intestine( terminal ileum) has been associated with increased incidences of celiac disease in the proximal small intestine.

Now, adding to the intrigue is these few articles linking certain gene patterns to pollen allergy and the food allergy cross reactions that are well recognized but rarely pursued clinically. Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS), also called the “burning mouth syndrome”, occurs in many people but frequently goes undiagnosed. Symptoms include burning, painful and/or itching sensation of mouth or throat with or without swelling that occurs almost immediately after eating certain foods that are commonly associated with pollen, latex or dust allergies. This unusual association of tree, grass, and weed pollens, and latex and house dust mite allergies to food reactions, though well documented in the medical literature, is not commonly recognized by doctors or patients.

The OAS literature is replete with many reports of food allergy or intolerance reactions to foods that are associated with specific pollen or latex allergies. For example, ragweed allergy is associated with a higher risk of food allergy or intolerance to melons and bananas. Birch tree pollen allergy is associated with sensitivity to many foods, especially those in the Rosacea family (apples, pears) and nuts (hazelnut, almond, walnut), potato, or carrot. Reactions can include skin rash (atopic dermatitis), wheezing (asthma), runny nose (allergic rhinitis), classic OAS or other food intolerance symptoms.

Individuals who suspect food allergy or intolerance are encouraged to review the food-pollen connection, undergo appropriate evaluations for gluten sensitivity, cow’s milk (casein) protein sensitivity, lactose intolerance, food allergy and consider having genetic testing done. After an adequate evaluation, I encourage a baseline symptom assessment with detailed food symptom diary before a trial of elimination diet. An elimination diet that excludes major food lectins (dairy, grain, legumes, and nightshades) and any foods from the pollen list that they are allergic to ought to be considered before accepting diagnoses of IBS

toimmune conditions, gluten sensitivity and celiac disease. HLA DQ2 is present in more than 90% of people who have celiac disease while HLADQ8 is present in most of the rest, though not all people with celiac have been found to have DQ2 and/or DQ8. Now it appears certain DQ or DR patterns are associated with food and pollen allergies as well.

There are three commercial labs that I am aware of that offer full HLA DQ typing. They are Quest Laboratories, The Laboratory at Bonfils in Denver, and Enterolab. Bonfils runs the Enterolab genetics on Q-tip swabs of the mouth as well as offering the testing of blood samples sent to them from other labs. In the future such testing may be very helpful in evaluation of suspected food allergy or intolerance as well as pollen allergies. In the meantime continued research will be anxiously awaited by those of us interested in this interesting story.

Dr. Fine, Enterolab, previously published HLA DQ patterns associated with microscopic colitis. He found microscopic changes in the colon or large intestine that was similar if not identical to what is seen in the small intestine in celiac disease. Several articles have now documented gluten free diet response in people with microscopic, lymphocytic and collagenous colitis as well in some people with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Findings of intraepithelial lymphocytosis in the distal small intestine( terminal ileum) has been associated with increased incidences of celiac disease in the proximal small intestine.

Now, adding to the intrigue is these few articles linking certain gene patterns to pollen allergy and the food allergy cross reactions that are well recognized but rarely pursued clinically. Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS), also called the “burning mouth syndrome”, occurs in many people but frequently goes undiagnosed. Symptoms include burning, painful and/or itching sensation of mouth or throat with or without swelling that occurs almost immediately after eating certain foods that are commonly associated with pollen, latex or dust allergies. This unusual association of tree, grass, and weed pollens, and latex and house dust mite allergies to food reactions, though well documented in the medical literature, is not commonly recognized by doctors or patients.

The OAS literature is replete with many reports of food allergy or intolerance reactions to foods that are associated with specific pollen or latex allergies. For example, ragweed allergy is associated with a higher risk of food allergy or intolerance to melons and bananas. Birch tree pollen allergy is associated with sensitivity to many foods, especially those in the Rosacea family (apples, pears) and nuts (hazelnut, almond, walnut), potato, or carrot. Reactions can include skin rash (atopic dermatitis), wheezing (asthma), runny nose (allergic rhinitis), classic OAS or other food intolerance symptoms.

Individuals who suspect food allergy or intolerance are encouraged to review the food-pollen connection, undergo appropriate evaluations for gluten sensitivity, cow’s milk (casein) protein sensitivity, lactose intolerance, food allergy and consider having genetic testing done. After an adequate evaluation, I encourage a baseline symptom assessment with detailed food symptom diary before a trial of elimination diet. An elimination diet that excludes major food lectins (dairy, grain, legumes, and nightshades) and any foods from the pollen list that they are allergic to ought to be considered before accepting diagnoses of IBS

mented gluten free diet response in people with microscopic, lymphocytic and collagenous colitis as well in some people with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Findings of intraepithelial lymphocytosis in the distal small intestine( terminal ileum) has been associated with increased incidences of celiac disease in the proximal small intestine.

Now, adding to the intrigue is these few articles linking certain gene patterns to pollen allergy and the food allergy cross reactions that are well recognized but rarely pursued clinically. Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS), also called the “burning mouth syndrome”, occurs in many people but frequently goes undiagnosed. Symptoms include burning, painful and/or itching sensation of mouth or throat with or without swelling that occurs almost immediately after eating certain foods that are commonly associated with pollen, latex or dust allergies. This unusual association of tree, grass, and weed pollens, and latex and house dust mite allergies to food reactions, though well documented in the medical literature, is not commonly recognized by doctors or patients.

The OAS literature is replete with many reports of food allergy or intolerance reactions to foods that are associated with specific pollen or latex allergies. For example, ragweed allergy is associated with a higher risk of food allergy or intolerance to melons and bananas. Birch tree pollen allergy is associated with sensitivity to many foods, especially those in the Rosacea family (apples, pears) and nuts (hazelnut, almond, walnut), potato, or carrot. Reactions can include skin rash (atopic dermatitis), wheezing (asthma), runny nose (allergic rhinitis), classic OAS or other food intolerance symptoms.

Individuals who suspect food allergy or intolerance are encouraged to review the food-pollen connection, undergo appropriate evaluations for gluten sensitivity, cow’s milk (casein) protein sensitivity, lactose intolerance, food allergy and consider having genetic testing done. After an adequate evaluation, I encourage a baseline symptom assessment with detailed food symptom diary before a trial of elimination diet. An elimination diet that excludes major food lectins (dairy, grain, legumes, and nightshades) and any foods from the pollen list that they are allergic to ought to be considered before accepting diagnoses of IBS

rgy or intolerance reactions to foods that are associated with specific pollen or latex allergies. For example, ragweed allergy is associated with a higher risk of food allergy or intolerance to melons and bananas. Birch tree pollen allergy is associated with sensitivity to many foods, especially those in the Rosacea family (apples, pears) and nuts (hazelnut, almond, walnut), potato, or carrot. Reactions can include skin rash (atopic dermatitis), wheezing (asthma), runny nose (allergic rhinitis), classic OAS or other food intolerance symptoms.

Individuals who suspect food allergy or intolerance are encouraged to review the food-pollen connection, undergo appropriate evaluations for gluten sensitivity, cow’s milk (casein) protein sensitivity, lactose intolerance, food allergy and consider having genetic testing done. After an adequate evaluation, I encourage a baseline symptom assessment with detailed food symptom diary before a trial of elimination diet. An elimination diet that excludes major food lectins (dairy, grain, legumes, and nightshades) and any foods from the pollen list that they are allergic to ought to be considered before accepting diagnoses of IBS, fibromyalgia, unexplained neuropathy or headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome or other symptoms not readily explained or improved with other diagnoses and treatment.

For those who need more help evaluating their symptoms a free online symptom assessment tool will be forthcoming on my website along with the option for a subscription based online diet-symptom diary that can be evaluated. Online consultation is now available at www.thefooddoc.com for those who have specific questions about their symptoms. The online symptom assessment combined with diet-symptom diary should help us help you design a specific diet for you. This individual specific modification of the paleo diet or Neopaleo Specific Diet combines information from OAS reactions with an individual history, family history, and prior testing including genetic patterns if known. A printed food symptom diary is due out in print within a few weeks and will be available for under $5 for those who are ready to start trying to track their symptoms in relation to the food they are eating.

Selected Bibliography

Boehncke, et. al. Clin Exp Allergy. 1998 Apr;28 (4):434-41.

Fine KD et. al. Am J Gastroenterol. 2000 Aug;95(8):1974-82.

Wang et. al. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg Feb;130(2):192-197.

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