Food Allergies Are More Common Among Black Children

Newswise — Black children have significantly higher rates of shellfish and fish allergies than White children, in addition to having higher odds of wheat allergy, suggesting that race may play an important role in how children are affected by food allergies, researchers at　Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago,　Rush University Medical Center　and two other hospitals have found.　　　

Results of the study were published in　the February issue　of the　Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice.　　　

"Food allergy is a common condition in the U.S., and we know from our previous research that there are important differences between　 Black　and　White　children with food allergy, but there is so much we need to know to be able to help our patients from minority groups," said　　Mahboobeh　Mahdavinia　MD, PhD, who is　first　author of the study and chief of the Division of Allergy and Immunology at the Medical Center. "In this current paper,　our goal was to understand whether children from different races are allergic to similar foods,　or　if　there is a difference based on their racial background."　

Findings are a　part of a　large, multicenter national trial, called Food Allergy Management and Outcomes Related to White and African American Racial Differences (FORWARD), which aims to　explore　potential racial differences and　disparities in　food allergy outcomes including　healthcare utilization, allergic reaction manifestation, management practices,　and　psycho-social　outcomes.　

"Previous studies indicate that cockroach exposure may be an important mechanism by which children develop a shellfish allergy. The immune system can confuse certain proteins in seafood with similar proteins that are present in the muscles of cockroaches that commonly elicit an allergic response," said Mahdavinia. "For example, research has suggested that shellfish allergy may occur from inhaling tropomyosin, the protein of two common household allergens, dust mite and cockroach, which share 80% of amino acid sequencing with shellfish. Tropomyosin, which regulates muscle contraction and relaxation, also has been found in fin fish."　　 

Food allergy is　a　major public health concern, affecting 8% of children in the United States, with an estimated economic burden of $24.8 billion annually.　 For　people with food allergies,　eating　a tiny amount of food can trigger symptoms such as hives, breathing, digestive problems, and/or anaphylaxis (a severe, potentially fatal allergic reaction).　　

"National surveys have shown that the prevalence of food allergy in general has been increasing in children in the U.S. among all races/ethnicities. However, much remains unknown about why certain allergies are more likely to affect children of particular races and ethnicities and how those racial/ethnic minority patients are affected,"　said the lead principal　investigator of the　study and senior author Ruchi Gupta, MD, MPH,　 Director of the Center for Food Allergy and Asthma Research at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and　a physician at　Ann &　Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.　

Gupta, Mahdavinia, and colleagues　are conducting　a large study of children ranging in age from birth to 12 years old who　are　diagnosed with food allergy and were seen in allergy/immunology clinics at four urban tertiary care centers in the U.S., which include　Rush University Medical Center, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center,　and Washington D.C.’s Children’s National Hospital. The study included 664　children and was composed of 36 percent　non-Hispanic　Black and 64 percent non-Hispanic　White children.　　　

While scientists are still trying to figure out the exact mechanism　of the allergy,　the findings　provide further insight into the importance of reducing　Black　children’s exposure to cockroaches.　　　

"This information can help us care for not only a child’s food allergy, but all of their allergic diseases, including asthma, allergic rhinitis,　and atopic dermatitis," said　Susan Fox, PA-C, MMS, who is a co-author of the study and an　allergy　and immunology physician assistant at Rush University Medical Center.　　　

In this study, the Black children with food allergies were more likely to have asthma. The study　also　showed that children with a shellfish allergy were more likely to have more severe asthma, while other food allergens were not associated with a diagnosis of asthma.　　

"A major concern is that there is a higher prevalence of asthma in　Black　children with food allergies when compared with　White children with food allergies. Approximately 70% of fatal food anaphylaxis is accompanied by asthma. Black　children are at a two- to threefold risk of fatal anaphylaxis compared to　White children,"　Mahdavinia　said. "By knowing this information, it can identify　 patients　most at risk.　　

"We need to conduct further research to identify food allergies and food sensitivities among all races and ethnicities so we can develop culturally-sensitive and effective educational programs to improve food allergy outcomes for all children,"　Mahdavinia　added.　　

Dr. Mary C. Tobin,　MD, and Susan　Fox,　PA-C MMS,　 allergists　at Rush, also　are　among the co-authors of the study.　　　

The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health　(R01 #AI130384).　

About Rush:

Rush University Medical Center (RUMC) is a large health system located on the West Side of Chicago. Rush University is the academic home of RUMC and the professional medical faculty (Internal Medicine) of the Cook County Bureau of Health Services (CCBHS). With more than 1.5 million ambulatory visits per year and 1500 open clinical trials, these two clinical entities comprise a large collaborative system of inpatient and outpatient care in Illinois.

About Lurie Children’s:

Research at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is conducted through the Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute. The Manne Research Institute is focused on improving child health, transforming pediatric medicine and ensuring healthier futures through the relentless pursuit of knowledge. Lurie Children’s is ranked as one of the nation’s top children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. It is the pediatric training ground for Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Last year, the hospital served more than 220,000 children from 48 states and 49 countries.