[Allergenic activity of non-calcinated egg shell calcium].
BACKGROUND
There is few data to prove the safety of egg shell calcium as allergen. Especially, non-calcinated egg shell calcium is not allowed to use without the description of origin of egg on food labels in Japan.


METHODS
We evaluated the possibly contaminated egg allergens in commercial non-calcinated egg shell calcium made from egg by in vitro methodologies (SDS-PAGE, western blotting, inhibition ELISA and sandwich ELISA) and by single-blind oral non-calcinated egg shell calcium challenge on 6 egg hypersensitivity patients.


RESULTS
The allergenic activity of non-calcinated egg shell calcium was almost negligible compared to egg white by all in vitro methods. Furthermore, six patients with egg hypersensitivity were unresponsive to oral non-calcinated egg shell calcium challenge test.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that there is little contamination of egg white in non-calcinated egg shell calcium, and that the allergenic activity of non-calcinated egg shell calcium is equivalent to that of calcinated egg shell calcium.
Ebisawa
Motohiro
M
Division of Pediatric Allergy, National Hospital Organization, Sagamihara National Hospital. m-ebisawa@sagamihara-hosp.gr.jp
Tachimoto
Hiroshi
H
Ikematsu
Kaori
K
Sugizaki
Chizuko
C
Masuda
Yasunobu
Y
Kimura
Mamoru
M
D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D021181:Egg Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D004528:Egg Shell / Q000737:chemistry*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male
D000485:Allergens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D002118:Calcium