Do shrimp-allergic individuals tolerate shrimp-derived glucosamine?
BACKGROUND
There is concern that shrimp-allergic individuals may react to glucosamine-containing products as shrimp shells are a major source of glucosamine used for human consumption.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine whether shrimp-allergic individuals can tolerate therapeutic doses of glucosamine.


METHODS
Subjects with a history of shrimp allergy were recruited and tested for both shrimp reactivity via a prick skin test and shrimp-specific IgE by an ImmunoCAP assay. Fifteen subjects with positive skin tests to shrimp and an ImmunoCAP class level of two or greater were selected for a double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge (DBPCFC) using glucosamine-chondroitin tablets containing 1,500 mg of synthetically produced (control) or shrimp-derived glucosamine. Immediate reactions, including changes in peak flow and blood pressure, and delayed reactions (up to 24 h post-challenge) via questionnaire were noted and assessed.


RESULTS
All subjects tolerated 1,500 mg of both shrimp-derived or synthetic glucosamine without incident of an immediate hypersensitivity response. Peak flows and blood pressures remained constant, and no subject had symptoms of a delayed reaction 24 h later.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that glucosamine supplements from specific manufacturers do not contain clinically relevant levels of shrimp allergen and therefore appear to pose no threat to shrimp-allergic individuals.
Villacis
J
J
Tulane University Health Sciences Center, Department of Clinical Immunology, Allergy, and Rheumatology, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
Rice
T R
TR
Bucci
L R
LR
El-Dahr
J M
JM
Wild
L
L
Demerell
D
D
Soteres
D
D
Lehrer
S B
SB
D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D033364:Decapoda; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D005944:Glucosamine / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012882:Skin Tests
D000485:Allergens; D005944:Glucosamine