How Common Is Soy Allergy In Adults

Does Soy Cause Inflammation

The body needs a healthy balance of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. Excess consumption of omega-6s can trigger the body to produce pro-inflammatory chemicals. These fatty acids are found in oils such corn, safflower, sunflower, grapeseed, soy, peanut, and vegetable mayonnaise and many salad dressings.

The Most Common Allergies Among Adults

Of all survey respondents, even among those who reported symptoms that seemed consistent with a food allergy, specialists had only diagnosed allergies in around half of them.

Also, among people with clinically diagnosed food allergies, under 25 percent held a prescription for epinephrine, which people use to treat severe allergic reactions.

Another interesting finding of the study is that almost half of the adults with food allergies had developed at least one of their allergies in adulthood.

We were surprised to find that adult-onset food allergies were so common. More research is needed to understand why this is occurring and how we might prevent it, says Dr. Gupta.

When they looked at the specifics of food allergies among U.S. adults, the researchers found that the most common ones were:

• shellfish

Should My Child Carry An Adrenaline Autoinjector

All allergists agree that children who have had a serious reaction with involvement of the breathing passages should have an adrenaline autoinjector. The need for other children to have an adrenalin autoinjector depends on a number of factors which should be discussed with your doctor.

If you have an adrenaline autoinjector it is very important that you understand how and when to use it and that you have a written anaphylaxis action plan provided by your doctor.

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Eating Out With Soy Allergies

Perhaps the biggest change to your life with a soy allergy will come from the options available to you when dining out. No longer can you just go grab a quick bite to eat, nor will you be able to freely eat at a friends house.

The best way to avoid getting sick at restaurants is to research ahead of time. Most restaurants post their menus online, which gives me a chance to figure out if this restaurant would be a safe option. Even if the menu says allergy friendly you still should research, because it is really difficult to ensure that a chef or kitchen will wipe off any surfaces, open new bags of ingredients, or even use a different set of gloves when preparing food.

For soy allergies in particular it is important to ask the restaurant what oil they use to fry their food. Often places will use soy or vegetable oil which includes soy in the blend. You also need to ask if there are any items that go into the fryer that contain soy as you dont want to have the risk of cross contamination via the oil.

To that effect, some places I have found to be generally safe include:

• InnOut
• Chipotle

What To Expect From Your Doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions, including:

• What symptoms have you or your child been having?
• When did symptoms begin?
• How soon after eating a particular food do symptoms appear?
• Do symptoms seem to be getting worse?
• Have you or your child recently added new foods to your diet?
• Are you or your child allergic to other foods?
• Do you have a family history of allergies or asthma?
• Are you or your child being treated for other medical conditions?

If your baby or child is the one with symptoms, your doctor may also ask:

• Have you recently started using a new infant formula?
• Do you or did you breast-feed your child? For how long?
• Has your child recently started eating solid foods?
• What foods do you typically include in your family diet?

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Signs And Symptoms Of Soy Allergy

Soy allergy symptoms can include:

• Abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting
• Bloody stool
• Hives, itching or itchy, scaly skin
• Redness of the skin
• Swelling of the lips, face, tongue and throat or other parts of the body
• Tingling in the mouth
• Wheezing, runny nose or trouble breathing

As mentioned above, soy allergy in infants often begins with the introduction of a soy-based formula. Soy allergy may develop when a child is switched to a soy-based formula after an allergic reaction to a milk-based formula.

What About Those May Contain Statements

These “advisory statements” are not required by the FDA, however, they’re worth giving your attention. When they are present there is a good chance that common food allergies are present.

In December 2010, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases put out a summary of the expert panel’s Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Food Allergy in the United States.

In the guidelines, the expert panel recommends avoiding foods containing advisory statements.

Some Foods Are Exempt from FALCPA including:

• Raw agricultural commodities
• Highly refined oils derived from the top food allergens
• Any ingredient derived from highly refined oil

Note that expeller-pressed and cold-pressed oils are not exempt as they could still contain allergen proteins.

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How Is An Allergic Reaction To Soy Treated

If your child has a soy allergy , the doctor will want him or her to carry an epinephrine auto-injector in case of an emergency.

An epinephrine auto-injector is a prescription medicine that comes in a small, easy-to-carry container. It’s easy to use. Your doctor will show you how. Kids who are old enough can be taught how to give themselves the injection. If they carry the epinephrine, it should be nearby, not left in a locker or in the nurse’s office.

Wherever your child is, caregivers should always know where the epinephrine is, have easy access to it, and know how to give the shot. Staff at your child’s school should know about the allergy and have an action plan in place. Your child’s medicines should be accessible at all times.

Every second counts in an allergic reaction. If your child starts having serious allergic symptoms, like swelling of the mouth or throat or difficulty breathing, give the epinephrine auto-injector right away. Also give it right away if the symptoms involve two different parts of the body, like hives with vomiting. Then call 911 and take your child to the emergency room. Your child needs to be under medical supervision because even if the worst seems to have passed, a second wave of serious symptoms can happen.

It’s also a good idea to carry an over-the-counter antihistamine for your child, as this can help treat mild allergy symptoms. Use after not as a replacement for the epinephrine shot during life-threatening reactions.

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Soy Allergy Symptoms And Diagnosis

Many soy allergy symptoms are uncomfortable but not life-threatening. Symptoms of a food allergy typically develop within a few minutes or hours following consumption of food with the allergen.

Soy allergy symptoms may include:

• Skin reactions including hives and eczema
• Skin redness
• Swollen lips, face, tongue, throat, or other body part
• Runny nose and wheezing
• Nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting
• Fever

In rare cases, severe reactions to soy may cause anaphylaxis. This reaction is more common with people who have asthma or other serious food allergies besides soy.

Anaphylaxis symptoms may include:

• Dizziness or loss of consciousness
• Difficulty breathing due to a swollen throat
• Drop in blood pressure and shock

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Experimental Tools For Diagnosis

As mentioned above, APT has been suggested as an addition to the work-up for children with suspected CMA, although results are conflicting. The most recent studies found no additional value of APT when compared to specific IgE measurement in the diagnosis of CMA or soy allergy.

Most recently, protein microarrays using purified natural CM-allergen components have been introduced to the diagnostic armamentarium of milk allergy. They showed performance characteristics comparable to the current diagnostic tests with the advantages of using small blood volumes and multiplex detection of responses to a number of proteins. Peptide microarray immunoassay is a novel method that can be used to analyze IgE and IgG4 binding to sequential epitopes on individual milk allergens and has been shown to differentiate between tolerant and milk-reactive patients. Further studies are needed to validate its utility in clinical practice.

What Are The Risks Of A Soy Allergy

Besides symptom unpleasantness, the primary risk of a soy allergy is anaphylaxis, which is the sudden and severe onset of multiple allergy symptoms, and may result in difficulty breathing, accelerated pulse, dizziness, drops in blood pressure, a state of shock, and death. Anaphylaxis should be addressed as a medical emergency. It is treated by medical personnel with the administration of intravenous fluids and one or more epinephrine injections. Allergy sufferers should carry an epinephrine autoinjector with them at all times. In case of a childrens allergy, a responsible adult should maintain and administer the autoinjector.

Fortunately, anaphylaxis is rare in soy-allergy sufferers. If you have questions about your level of risk, or that of a loved one, see your physician.

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When To See A Doctor

See your primary care doctor or a doctor who specializes in treating allergies if you experience food allergy symptoms shortly after eating. If possible, see your doctor during an allergic reaction.

Seek emergency treatment if you develop signs or symptoms of anaphylaxis, such as:

• Difficulty breathing
• Drooling and inability to swallow
• Full-body redness and warmth

What Is Food Intolerance

A food intolerance isn’t the same as a food allergy.

People with food intolerance may have symptoms such as diarrhoea, bloating and stomach cramps. This may be caused by difficulties digesting certain substances, such as lactose. However, no allergic reaction takes place.

Important differences between a food allergy and a food intolerance include:

• the symptoms of a food intolerance usually occur several hours after eating the food
• you need to eat a larger amount of food to trigger an intolerance than an allergy
• a food intolerance is never life threatening, unlike an allergy

Read more about food intolerance.

Page last reviewed: 15 April 2019 Next review due: 15 April 2022

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What Is The Difference Between A Soy Allergy And A Soy Intolerance

Some persons have a mild variation on a soy allergy called a soy intolerance. Unlike a food allergy, an intolerance does not cause the bodys immune system to produce antibodies to the introduced substance. Persons with intolerances can often eat small amounts of the food in question without much difficulty. In larger quantities, they may experience a gastrointestinal reaction, such as an upset stomach or abdominal cramping.

Soy Free Bread Alternatives

Most breads are made with a starter containing soy. This can make avoiding soy very difficult. Options for soy free breads are:

• Home-made using a breadmaker and allowed flours
• Check your local baker, greengrocer, delicatessen or supermarket for soy free breads
• Crumpets
• Many flat breads e.g. Lebanese or Indian bread, wraps, mountain breads

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How Do I Avoid Exposing My Child To Soy

Soya beans are used widely in the manufacture of processed foods although they are not commonly eaten in Australia. e.g. tofu, miso, teriyaki, soy sauce, edamame beans and soy milk need to be avoided.

It is important to:

• Learn to how to read food labels carefully. Always check the food list for soy on the label even if it says “soy-free”.
• Avoid foods that dont have a food label or that you havent made yourself, as there is no guarantee that the food doesnt contain soy
• Plan eating out and travelling and talk to staff serving you about your childs allergy
• Avoid food that is served using spoons/tongs that are also used to serve food containing soy
• Prepare safe meals at home for your child to take out
• Teach your child about their allergy

Diagnosis Of Soy Allergy

Diagnosis of soy allergy is the first step towards healing and recovery. Diagnosis is carried out in the allergic center by a doctor allergist or immunologist. The patient is tested for food intolerance and skin tests with allergen extracts. Of great importance during the diagnosis is the symptomatology of allergy to soy. In addition, the patient takes blood for analysis and scraping of the skin.

Diagnosis of soy allergy should be carried out immediately after the appearance of the first symptoms. Since this allows us to prescribe the right and effective treatment that will remove symptoms and cure allergy to soy.

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Food Label Reading Tips

One of the most important things you can do to avoid common food allergies is careful food label reading. The Food Allergen Labeling Consumer Protection Act of 2004 requires that foods regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration clearly indicate if a product contains any of the most common allergens.

Food manufacturers can do this in a couple of ways. First, the label can include the allergen right next to the ingredient that contains that allergen:

Ingredients: Enriched flour , sugar, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, and/or cottonseed oil, high fructose corn syrup, whey , eggs, vanilla, natural and artificial flavoring) salt, leavening , lecithin , mono-and diglycerides .

The other way is to list the allergens at the end of the ingredient list like this…

Contains Wheat, Milk, Egg, and Soy

Also, ingredient lists should list specific types of tree nuts , fish and crustacean shellfish

How Can I Find Out If Soy Is In A Food Product

All FDA-regulated manufactured food products that contain as an ingredient a major food allergen are required by U.S. law to list that allergen on the product label. For tree nuts, fish, and crustacean shellfish, the specific type of nut or fish must be listed.

This guide provides information on how you can select soy-free foods by properly reading Nutrition Facts food labels. A Registered Dietitian can provide detailed nutrition education to help you develop a personal action plan.

A soy-free diet is indicated for soy protein allergy. The common allergens are listed either within the ingredient list or after the list. For example, if a product contains natto, a food made with fermented soybean, the product’s label should list the term soy either after the term natto, or state contains soy after the list of ingredients. The FDA currently does not require manufacturers to state if the food was processed in a facility that also processes the 8 common food allergens.

Anyone allergic to soy should avoid the following ingredients and foods:

• Soy: in all forms, including soy flour, soy fiber, soy albumin, soy grits.
• Soy milk, soy ice cream, soy cheese, soy yogurt.
• Soybean .
• Soy protein .
• Soya.
• Soy nuts and soy sprouts.
• Soy sauce and shoyu sauce.
• Tofu and textured vegetable protein .
• Edamame.
• Hoisin.

You might want to avoid or be mindful when considering the following:

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 10/02/2018.

References

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Most Common Food Allergies In Adults

According to Food Allergy Research and Education , its estimated that up to 15 million Americans have a food allergy. While some allergies can lead to itchy skin or rash, others can cause severe reactions such as swollen throat or anaphylaxisa severe response that affects blood pressure and breathing and can even lead to death. Although many people use the terms interchangeably, a food allergy is not the same as a food intolerance, such as the inability to digest lactose, which can be annoying and painful but not dangerous.

If you think you have an allergy to one of these foods, talk to your health care provider and steer clear of any dish containing them. If you have severe reactions, have a contingency plan ready in case you accidentally expose yourself.

Milk

Not to be confused with lactose intolerance, one of the most common types of allergies is to dairy products. When someone is lactose intolerant, lactosea type of sugar found in dairymoves through the large intestine without being properly digested and can lead to uncomfortable symptoms, such as gas, bloating or indigestion.

However, when someone is allergic to dairy, the symptoms will affect much more than just the digestive tract. A milk allergy is when the immune system doesnt recognize dairy and attacks it by releasing histamines. Someone with a milk allergy can develop severe symptoms, such as breathing complications or an uneven heartbeat.

Tree nuts

Peanuts

Soy

Fish/Shellfish

Wheat

What Causes Food Allergies

Food allergies happen when the immune system the body’s defence against infection mistakenly treats proteins found in food as a threat.

As a result, a number of chemicals are released. It’s these chemicals that cause the symptoms of an allergic reaction.

Almost any food can cause an allergic reaction, but there are certain foods that are responsible for most food allergies.

Foods that most commonly cause an allergic reaction are:

• milk
• shellfish
• some fruit and vegetables

Most children that have a food allergy will have experienced eczema during infancy. The worse the child’s eczema and the earlier it started, the more likely they are to have a food allergy.

It’s still unknown why people develop allergies to food, although they often have other allergic conditions, such as asthma, hay fever and eczema.

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