Risk of contracting food allergy reduced by half? 4,000 people researched and revealed the "2 major reasons"
The Omicron epidemic in Taiwan is severe. Although most people are currently suffering from mild symptoms, the virus may still cause certain damage to the respiratory system. Patients with asthma, allergies, and pulmonary obstruction need to pay special attention. However, are people suffering from “food allergy” related diseases related to a lower risk of infection? What is the operating mechanism behind it? Research published by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) believes that this phenomenon is related to the “ACE 2” receptors in the human body.
Analysis of 4,000 people shows that people with food allergies reduce their risk of contracting the disease by 50%
The Human Epidemiology and COVID-19 Response Study Group (HEROS), funded by the National Institutes of Health, monitors the COVID-19 infection status of about 4,000 people in nearly 1,400 families. Approximately 50% of children, adolescents and adults suffer from “type 2 inflammatory” diseases, such as food allergies, asthma, eczema and allergic rhinitis.
The study assigned a nursing staff to conduct nasopharyngeal testing for the household once every two weeks, fill out weekly questionnaires, and regularly collect serum samples. After long-term evaluation by the HEROS team, it was found that people with confirmed food allergy based on self-report or physician diagnosis have a 50% lower risk of infection compared with people diagnosed without food allergy. Subjects who reported food allergies were about three times more likely to react to allergens than normal people.
Food allergies linked to fewer diagnoses? Study: Immune proteins, ACE 2 receptors are key
However, the HEROS team did not find a link among people with asthma, eczema or allergic rhinitis. The team further tested “Immunoglobulin E” (IgE) in the blood of allergic people and found that the concentration of this antibody is higher in people with food allergies and may play a key role in avoiding new coronavirus infection.
Study author Tina V. Hartert explained that type 2 inflammatory diseases may be related to a decrease in “ACE2 receptors” in the respiratory tract. Previous studies have confirmed that the ACE 2 receptor is the main channel for the new coronavirus to invade cells, so the scarcity of ACE2 receptors may limit the virus’s ability to infect. In addition, the lifestyle habits of people with food allergies, such as eating out less frequently and being more conscious about their diet, may also be factors that reduce infection.
Children in the household have the highest chance of “asymptomatic infection” Experts warn against worsening of asthma and allergy symptoms
The HEROS team also showed through this study that obesity may be a serious risk factor for COVID-19. For every 10 percentage point increase in BMI percentile, the risk of infection will increase by 9%; the risk of infection in overweight people increases by 41% compared with normal subjects. Genetic analysis gleaned from nasopharyngeal testing suggests that changes in the body’s inflammatory environment may be associated with increased BMI, Hartert said.
Another important finding is that the “asymptomatic infection rate” in children is 75%. Compared with 59% among teenagers and 38% among adults, infections in children are more likely to form invisible transmission chains. In families where a single confirmed person is infected, there is a 58% chance that the virus will be spread to multiple family members at the same time.
Hartert pointed out that although no correlation between asthma and the risk of infection was found in this study, if the virus affects the respiratory tract, it may still have an impact on patients with asthma or allergic rhinitis.
“Research has found that children have a higher chance of asymptomatic infection and may be the main spreaders of household infections. If children are unfortunately infected with the epidemic, not only will family members be at increased risk of infection, but it may also aggravate asthma and allergy symptoms. Therefore. “Parents need to be extra vigilant about the possibility of infection in children, as they are often prone to asthma or allergic rhinitis,” Hartert said.
source:
Food allergy is associated with lower risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection
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