Perceived food hypersensitivity relates to poor asthma control and quality of life in young non-atopic asthmatics.
BACKGROUND
The relationship between perceived food hypersensitivity in asthmatics, food allergen sensitization, asthma control and asthma-related quality of life has not been studied.


OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to study the prevalence of perceived food hypersensitivity in a cohort of young asthmatics, its relation to food allergen sensitization, and any correlation to asthma control and asthma-related quality of life.


METHODS
Perceived food hypersensitivity, as well as IgE sensitization to common food allergens, levels of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), and blood eosinophil counts (B-Eos) were assessed in 408 subjects (211 women) with asthma, aged (mean ± SEM) 20.4 ± 0.3 years. Subjects filled out the Asthma Control Test (ACT) and the Mini Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (Mini-AQLQ). Inflammation was assessed by means of FeNO and B-Eos.


RESULTS
Fifty-three per cent of subjects reported food hypersensitivity. A corresponding food allergen sensitization was found in 68% of these subjects. Non-atopic subjects with perceived food hypersensitivity (n = 31) had lower ACT (19 (15 - 22) vs. 21 (20 - 23), p < 0.001) and Mini-AQLQ -scores (5.3 (4.3 - 6.1) vs. 6.1 (5.5 - 6.5), p < 0.001) than subjects with no food hypersensitivity (n = 190), despite lower levels of FeNO and B-Eos (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Food hypersensitivity was commonly reported among young asthmatics. In a majority of cases, a corresponding food allergen sensitization was found. A novel and clinically important finding was that non-atopic subjects with perceived food hypersensitivity were characterized by poorer asthma control and asthma-related quality of life.
Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Jennifer
J
Johnson
Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Thermo Fisher Scientific, Uppsala, Sweden.
Magnus P
MP
Borres
Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Lennart
L
Nordvall
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Uppsala, Sweden.
Jonas
J
Lidholm
Department of Medical Sciences, Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Christer
C
Janson
Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Kjell
K
Alving
Department of Medical Sciences, Clinical Physiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Andrei
A
Malinovschi
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
D000485:Allergens; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D007073:Immunoglobulin E