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Food allergen sensitization significant in patients with IBS

SAN ANTONIO — A high prevalence of food sensitization and positive history of lower gastrointestinal symptoms with certain foods indicated a significant role for food allergen sensitization in the pathogenesis of atopic irritable bowel syndrome, according to study results presented at the 2015 American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Annual Scientific Meeting.

Mary C. Tobin, MD, the section chief of allergy/immunology at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, and colleagues recruited patients with the diagnosis of IBS and allergic rhinitis from the Celiac and Food Sensitivity Clinic of Rush University from Sept. 2013 to May 2015 to analyze the role of food sensitization plays on gastrointestinal symptoms in atopic patients with IBS.

The analysis included 85 patients (74% female, mean age 37.4 years). An allergist, gastroenterologist and dietitian each independently interviewed patients to evaluate for symptoms of food allergy and relation of gastrointestinal symptoms to certain foods.

The patients then underwent skin-prick testing to food allergens following the interviews.

Ninety-five percent of patients had reported specific IBS-associated gastrointestinal symptoms with foods.

Only 17% of patients showed classic symptoms of food allergy — hives, angioedema or an asthma attack.

After skin-prick testing, 76% of patients had evidence of food sensitization to at least one food allergen. The most common positive allergens included tree nuts (27%), fish (24%), peanut (23%) and shellfish (22%).

The results indicate that allergists should approach allergy patients to ask if they have IBS symptoms, Tobin and colleagues wrote.

“The diagnosis of atopic IBS could lead to identification of food triggers and improvement of their gastrointestinal symptoms through food elimination,” the researchers wrote. – by Ryan McDonald

Reference:

Tobin MC, et al. Poster 243. Presented at: American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Annual Scientific Meeting; Nov. 5-9; San Antonio.

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