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Celiac.com 02/26/2021 - Researchers estimate that 32 million Americans have food allergies, including nearly six million children under age 18. About 40 percent of children with food allergies are sensitive to more than one food. In the U.S., more than 170 foods have been reported to cause allergic reactions. However, new evidence confirms that nearly every allergic reaction to food is caused by one of just eight foods. The food group known by the United States Department of Agriculture as the "Big Eight," includes wheat, peanuts, milk, eggs, tree nuts, fish, crustacean shellfish and soy. These foods account for 90 percent of food allergies in the U.S. Food Allergies on the Rise The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention reports that the number of children with food allergies rose by 50 percent between 1997 and 2011. Even though many people suffer from serious, potentially life-threatening food allergies, most people with food allergies suffer only mild reactions to the offending food. Those people may benefit from efforts to grow and cultivate low allergen versions of many of these foods. Some of the Big Eight foods, such as "[w]heat and peanuts are...major sources of proteins to many, especially those living in resource-deprived conditions, [so]...Finding affordable ways to make wheat and peanuts available for all is very important," says Sachin Rustgi, a member of the Crop Science Society of America, who studies ways to breed less allergenic varieties of the Big Eight foods. Currently No Cure for Food Allergy There is currently no cure for food allergy. Food allergy therapies are under study in clinical trials, but none has been approved yet for general use. Here are the Big Eight major food allergens and some things researchers are working on: Wheat Celiac disease affects more than three million Americans. Researchers are currently using CRISPR gene editing to create wheat varieties that are less allergenic than present strains. "Disrupting the gluten genes in wheat could yield wheat with significantly lower levels of gluten," says Rustgi. Tree nuts Nearly four million Americans suffer from tree nut allergy. Between 1997 and 2008, the prevalence of peanut or tree nut allergy appears to have more than tripled in U.S. children. Peanuts Peanut allergies affect more than six million Americans. In one approach to the problem, researchers are currently testing numerous peanut varieties to find strains that are naturally less allergenic than others. They then hope to use these strains to reduce the allergic sensitivity in people who suffer from peanut allergies. Milk More than six 6.1 million Americans suffer from dairy allergy. Fish Nearly 2.6 million Americans suffer from fish allergy. Crustacean shellfish More than eight million Americans suffer from Crustacean shellfish allergy. Soy Soy allergy affects nearly two million Americans. Egg More than two and a half million Americans suffer from egg allergy. Sesame Sesame is not considered one of the Big Eight major food allergens, but more than a half a million Americans have an allergy to sesame, and it is a growing concern. Researchers are currently trying three different approaches to reducing allergens levels in some, and eventually, all, of those foods. Breeding to Lower Allergens Researchers have been trying to breed varieties of wheat with lower gluten content. The challenge, in part, lies in the complicated nature of gluten genetics. The information needed to make gluten is embedded in the DNA in wheat cells. Gene Editing Offers Promise CRISPR technology allows scientists to make very precise changes to a cell's DNA. Wheat has numerous offending proteins, making gene editing more challenging. Recent improvements in CRISPR technology allow researchers to target many genes at once. By using CRISPR, researchers can change genes so the body's cells no longer 'read' them, and stop making allergenic proteins. Targeting the 'Master Regulator' Another approach includes understanding how gluten production is regulated in wheat cells. As it turns out, in gluten genes, a single protein acts as a 'master regulator.' Targeting a single gene is much easier than trying to disrupt the several gluten genes, so targeting the master regulator could produce low-gluten wheat strains. If researchers can figure out ways to reduce the levels of allergens in these eight foods, they can conceivably make them safe to consume for large numbers of people with food allergies. Read more at News-medical.net

Celiac.com 11/22/2019 - Our son, Howard, was diagnosed with multiple, life-threatening food allergies, meaning he is allergic to almost everything but cocoa. He also reacts to airborne and contact allergens so he cannot touch play dough, ice cream, gluten, meats, peanuts, shellfish, eggs and milk. The most common question I am asked is: “Then what do you feed him?” Howard is fed foods that are rated class 3 and below, which includes rice, potatoes, beans, quinoa, and vacuum-packed tilapia fish. He must be pre-medicated daily with Xyzal for hives and rash, and Qvar inhalant to protect his lungs, all of which is much better than having a feeding tube. Since Howard is also allergic to cats, dogs, and cockroaches, his allergies restrict social encounters to places where these allergens are less likely to be present. Therefore, I used to take him to the Cortlandt Town Center, where he was given special attention by Mr. Willie who works at Walmart. He gave Howard smiley face stickers and Howard could also interact with other kids shopping with their parents. Jimmy, from the Mohegan Lake Post Office, used to let Howard play with his pigs. Mrs. Lan from Rite Aid, just spoiled him with all sorts of gifts. Although Howard was happiest during those times, he would sometimes say, “Mommy, I am sad. I want to go to school and meet friends that are not cousins.” So I tried to find him a daycare. We were rejected at every one I found because they said it would be difficult for them to monitor Howie. It saddened me each time he was rejected. One day, as I was standing in line at TD Bank in Jefferson Valley, I saw a man wearing a Mohegan Lake Fire Department T-Shirt and I asked him about a recent incident in our community. Meanwhile, Howie was clowning around with Frank, an employee of TD Bank, who asked if I had found a school for Howard yet. The fireman, Mr. Tommy Russo, asked if I had tried Tom Thumb because the fire department could respond to them in 5 minutes. He also mentioned that his wife works there and that Mrs. Brody would never turn a kid away. I drove straight from the bank to Tom Thumb and met Mrs. Brody and told her that my son wanted to go to school but no one wanted him because of his allergies. She said, “We have two kids with allergies and we have the Mohegan Lake Fire Department next door so we will be happy to take him.” She told me to inform the staff that he would be attending pre-school at Tom Thumb and to make sure we got an Action Plan from his pediatrician and allergist. After leaving Tom Thumb I went to the Mohegan Lake Fire Department and spoke to the Chief who let Howie sit and have his picture taken in the fire truck. He told me that “He’s in good hands.” Howard is now the happiest child in the world. Tom Thumb is ordering gluten free Play Dough for the entire school. They are even changing the finger paint to protect any children who might have unrecognized allergies. I would like to thank: Dr. Rodd Stein of Yorktown Pediatrics and Dr. Robert Goldman of Hudson Valley Asthma and Allergy Associates for saving our son’s life; Doctors Cox and Novak from Mt. Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital; Dr Parvez and Lenn from Maria Fareri Childrens Hospital; Dr. Li and Dr. Hom from Westchester Medical; Mrs. Roberta Gershner, the nutritionist who is part of Howie’s team; The staff at Mrs. Green’s in Yorktown Heights; Susan Zajicek, Ingrid Smith, and Karen Miller of Three Dogs Gluten-Free Bakery who will take on the challenge of making the first birthday cake that Howard can eat. Thanks to you all. We love you.

Celiac.com 08/01/2019 - Rates of celiac disease have climbed steeply in recent decades in some developed countries. However, there really isn't much in the current medical literature to clearly explain the increase. Researchers Seth Scott Bittker and Kathleen Roberta Bell recently set out to determine whether nine variables are associated with the development of celiac disease in children. They are variously affiliated with the Interdisciplinary Center for Innovative Theory and Empirics (INCITE), Columbia University, New York, New York, US; and the Ontario College of Teachers, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The team looked at the following variables: "incidence of ear infection before 2 years old, courses of antibiotics before 2 years old, duration of breastfeeding, vitamin D drop exposure in infancy, vitamin D supplement exposure between 2–3 years old, age at gluten introduction into the diet, fat content of cow’s milk consumed between 2–3 years old, quantity of cow’s milk consumed between 2–3 years old, and type of water consumed at 2 years old." To gather their data, the team used an internet survey to quiz parents living in the US with at least one biological child between 3 and 12 years old. To recruit participants, the team used social media, websites, electronic newsletters, and advertisements. The team ended up with a total of 332 responses for children with celiac disease, and 241 responses from the non-celiac control group. The team's data showed that skim liquid cow’s milk consumed between 2–3 years old, vitamin D drops used for longer than 3 months, early doses of antibiotics, and early ear infection are all associated with later development of celiac disease in children. This study found a connection between skim milk consumption, and vitamin D drop use for more than 3 months, and later development of celiac disease. It also found evidence to support earlier data that early life exposure to antibiotics and early life infection, especially ear infection, are also associated with the development of celiac disease in children. Read more in Clinical and Experimental Gastroenterology

Celiac.com 10/31/2018 - It’s official. Twitter official. Kourtney Kardashian has made peace with wheat and dairy, and called off her highly touted gluten-free, dairy-free diet. After several years of avoiding them like the plague, the celebrity is now on good terms with both gluten and dairy and is ready to accept them back into her diet. In a new post on her website, the ever busy Kardashian says she’s relaxing a bit, and allowing for dietary deviation and occasional indulgences "in moderation." Kardashian and gluten are not exactly new besties. For now, Kardashian says, she plans to remain gluten-free and dairy-free at home, but more flexible when traveling and dining out. "Lately, I've been less strict about avoiding gluten and dairy…Everything in my pantry is still free of dairy and gluten, so when I'm at home, it's still how I eat," she writes. "But when I go out, or have a craving, I'll have whatever I want. I try to do everything in moderation in my usual routine." In addition Kardashian noted recently on her website that, in addition to a few choice supplements, she usually starts her day with “one tablespoon of organic apple cider vinegar mixed into a glass of water." Can’t get enough? Follow Kourtney Kardashian on Twitter: @kourtneykardash