Authors:
Ashley S, Dang T, Koplin J, Martino D, Prescott S.
Authors notes:
Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2015;15(3):237-42
Keywords:
food allergy, food hypersensitivity, oral tolerance
Abstract:
The community burden of food allergy appears to be rising, yet the causes and mechanisms are not completely understood.
The purpose of this review is to provide a snapshot of the state of play of IgE food allergies, with a focus on recent advances.
There are still wide discrepancies regarding measures and definitions of food allergy.
Even recent studies still rely on food sensitization, self-reporting, or parent-reporting rather than more robust measures.
Population-based sampling strategies using objective measures are underway in some countries.
Emerging data suggest substantial geographical and ethnic differences in food sensitization and allergy.
Trans-cutaneous sensitization, particularly in those with eczema or filaggrin mutations, has been posited as a potential mechanism, as well as gut microbiota and genetics/epigenetics.
Treatments for food allergy are still lacking, yet progress is being made, and immunotherapy appears more effective than dietary avoidance.
Non-IgE food allergy remains drastically under-explored.