Allergy Asthma Immunol Res.  2014 Nov;6(6):511-516. 10.4168/aair.2014.6.6.511.

Food Hypersensitivity in Mexican Adults at 18 to 50 Years of Age: A Questionnaire Survey

• Bedolla-Barajas M
• Bedolla-Pulido TR
• Camacho-Pena AS
• Gonzalez-Garcia E
• Morales-Romero J

• KMID: 2260173
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4168/aair.2014.6.6.511

Abstract

PURPOSE
There is limited epidemiological evidence of food hypersensitivity (FH) in the adult population. We aimed to determine the prevalence of FH in Mexican adults, their clinical features and to establish common food involved in its appearance.
METHODS
We designed a cross-sectional study using a fixed quota sampling; 1,126 subjects answered a structured survey to gather information related to FH.
RESULTS
The prevalence of FH in adults was 16.7% (95% CI, 14.5% to 18.8%), without statistical significant differences related to gender (women, 17.5% and men, 15.9%) or residential location. The most common clinical manifestations in adults with FH were oral allergy syndrome (70 of 1,126) and urticaria (55 of 1,126). According to category, fruits and vegetables were the most frequent foods to trigger FH (6.12%) and were individually related to shrimp (4.0%), and cow milk (1.5%). Adults under age 25 had a higher frequency of FH (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.91, P <0.001). Personal history of any atopic disease was significantly associated with FH (P <0.0001).
CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of FH is relatively high in Mexican adults, and FH is significantly associated with atopic diseases.

Keyword

Food hypersensitivity; prevalence; adult; epidemiology; questionnaire

MeSH Terms

Adult*
Cross-Sectional Studies
Epidemiology
Food Hypersensitivity*
Fruit
Humans
Hypersensitivity
Male
Milk
Prevalence
Urticaria
Vegetables
Surveys and Questionnaires

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Food category indicated as causes of food hypersensitivity in 1,126 subjects.

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  Fig. 2 Food frequency most involved with food hypersensitivity in 1,126 subjects.

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