BMI associated with adult-onset shrimp allergy
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Adult-onset shrimp allergy was associated with higher BMI, according to a retrospective chart review presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Annual Scientific Meeting.
This association occurred independently of any pre-existing cross-reactivity with dust mite or cockroach, according to Jodan Pathinathan, MD, an allergist and immunologist at the Center for Allergy and Asthma Research, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, New York, and colleagues.
“We have previously found that obesity in adults may be both a risk and exacerbating factor for atopic asthma,” Pathinathan said during his presentation.
Building on that research, researchers conducted a review of adults receiving ongoing allergy care at the SUNY faculty, with 23 identified as positive for shrimp allergy via symptoms and positive serum IgE on fluoroimmunoassay — 22 of whom had allergic rhinitis and/or asthma as well — and 38 having allergic rhinitis and/or asthma but no shrimp allergy.
The researchers also used skin prick testing and/or serum IgE to test all the participants for sensitization to dust mite and cockroach, which are known to cross-react immunologically with shrimp.
Researchers then conducted statistical analyses using Fisher’s exact test, partial Spearman correlation matrix and logistic regression.
Results showed an association between shrimp reactivity and dust mite sensitization (P = .001) and cockroach sensitization (P = .025). Dust mite and cockroach sensitization also correlated (R = 0.503; P < .0001).
There also was a correlation between BMI and shrimp sensitization (R = 0.386; P = .005). Further, shrimp positivity correlated with dust mite sensitization (R = 0.357; P = .015) but not with cockroach positivity (r = 0.234).
After adjusting for age, sex and positive status for dust mite or cockroach sensitization status independently of each other, increasing BMI predicted adult-onset shrimp allergy.
Increasing BMI also was associated with increased odds for adult-onset shrimp allergy after controlling for dust mite positivity (OR = 1.15; 95% CI, 1.01-1.31) and for cockroach positivity (OR = 1.12; 95% CI, 1.01-1.23).
“Mouse models have shown obesity is associated with altered gut microbiome with decreased diversity and possible more pro-inflammatory species and gut-allergic responses,” Pathinathan said.
With this as a possible explanation, the researchers concluded that there is an association between higher BMI and adult-onset shrimp allergy independent of pre-existing cross-reactivity with dust mite or cockroach.