The sensitization rates of food allergens in a Korean population: a multi-center study

Abstract

Background: sensitization to food allergens is associated with development of food allergy. Although rates of sensitization to food allergens are different according to countries, there has not been surveyed on the sensitization rate to each food allergen in Korean population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the food allergen sensitization rate among patients who visited allergy clinics at several university hospitals in Korea. Methods: This study was carried out on 1,425 patients who visited allergy clinics with various allergic symptoms. They had skin prick test for 62 items to evaluate sensitization to food allergens. Result: The food allergens of which sensitization rate was above 1% were pupa of a silkworm, shrimp, chestnut, curry, potato, soybean, rice flour, buckwheat, cabbage, mackerel, abalone, lobster, turban shell, arrowroot in decreasing order. The sensitization rate of pupa was highest among them by 9.4% and that of shrimp followed by 5.8%. The sensitization rates of food allergens were generally higher in rates and young adults than in those of females and old people. Atopic patients for inhalant allergens showed higher sensitization rates of food allergens than non-atopic patients for inhalant allergens. Conclusion: Common food allergens sensitized in a korean population were different from those in other countries. Pupa of a silkworm, shrimp, chestnut, curry, potato, soybean, rice flour, buckwheat, cabbage, mackerel were the 10 most common food allergens sensitized in korean population above 10 years old.