title: Prevalence of wheat allergy  in Japanese adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Wheat is one of the most common causes of food allergies. The exact prevalence of wheat allergy has not been well delineated in Japanese adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 935 adults in a cohort study established by Shimane University in order to examine the determinants of lifestyle-related diseases. A screening was conducted by a questionnaire-based examination and a detection of serum omega-5 gliadin-specific IgE. Subjects who tested positive in the questionnaire-based examination and/or the serum omega-5 gliadin-specific IgE test were further examined by detailed interviews and skin prick tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 22 subjects were picked up by the screening process, and 17 of these were further examined by secondary testing. Only two subjects were conclusively identified as having wheat allergy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of wheat allergy in Japanese adults was found to be 0.21% by using a combination of questionnaire-based examination, skin prick test and serum omega-5 gliadin-specific IgE test.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Shimane University Faculty of Medicine, Shimane, Japan. emorita@med.shimane−u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Eishin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chinuki
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Tohru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nabika
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamasaki
authors.forename: Kuninori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shiwaku
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005903:Gliadin / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012882:Skin Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D021182:Wheat Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D005903:Gliadin