Allergy Awareness Week

Allergy Awareness Week is an annual event dedicated to raising awareness about allergies, their impact on individuals’ lives, and the importance of understanding, managing, and treating these conditions (1). During the week organisations, healthcare professionals, and communities share information about:

•       the causes, symptoms, and treatments of allergies

•       the different types of allergies, including food, seasonal, drug, and insect bite allergies

•       the challenges faced by individuals with severe allergies, such as anaphylaxis

•       strategies for reducing the risk of allergic reactions.

•       the need for research and support for those with allergies and those who live with them

What is an allergy?

An allergy is a reaction your body has to a particular food or substance, called an allergen. Whilst in most people these substances pose no problem, for allergic individuals their immune system identifies them as a threat. As a result, the body produces a response to try and combat the supposed threat. This can range from minor reactions such as itching or sneezing to something much more severe and life-threatening, like anaphylaxis. Allergies are more common in children, but they can persist into adulthood. 

Childhood Food Allergy

The topic of Allergy Awareness Week 2025 is childhood food allergy. It will focus specifically on the experience of parents and carers of babies with food allergies, helping to combat anxieties and offering practical support.

Allergy Facts

•     Allergies affect more than 1 in 4 people in the UK at some point in their lives.

•     Allergies are particularly common in children. 

•     People can develop allergies to things they were not previously allergic to. 

•     The most common allergies include: grass and tree pollen (hay fever), food (such as nuts, shellfish and eggs), dust mites and medicines like penicillin. 

Some common symptoms of an allergic reaction:

Allergic reactions happen when the immune system overreacts to one or more allergens by producing antibodies called immunoglobulin E (IgE). These antibodies produce the symptoms of allergy which may include:

•       Sneezing

•       Coughing

•     A runny or blocked nose

•     A red, itchy rash

•     Worsening of eczema or asthma symptoms

•     Shortness of breath

•     Swelling

•     Red, itchy and watery eyes

Food allergy likely affects nearly 5% of adults and 8% of children, with evidence of an increase in prevalence (2). The incidence and severity of allergic reactions is influenced by:

•       Genetics

•       Age at exposure

•       The microbiome – the gut microbiome, in particular, can affect the development of food allergies. The skin microbiome may affect the development of allergic skin reactions.

•       Nutritional status – being malnourished in any way can affect the immune system.

•       Vitamin D insufficiency

•       Processed dietary fats – particularly excess omega 6 fats and insufficient omega 3 fats

•       Obesity

•       Increased hygiene – being overly clean and lack of exposure to microbes has a negative effect on the immune system

Reasons for the Increased Incidence of Allergies

Loss of contact with nature, alterations in the microbiota, processed food consumption, exposure to environmental pollutants, increased stress and decreased physical activity may all contribute to the increase in the frequency of inflammatory disorders including allergies and many autoimmune diseases (3).

Several hypotheses have been put forth to explain the observed increases in these diseases, such as the 'Hygiene Hypothesis', 'Old Friends', and 'Biodiversity and Dysbiosis'. The recently introduced 'Epithelial Barrier Theory' incorporates these former hypotheses and suggests that toxic substances in cleaning agents, laundry and dishwasher detergents, shampoos, toothpastes, as well as microplastics, packaged food and air pollution damage the epithelium of our skin, lungs and gastrointestinal system. Epithelial barrier disruption leads to decreased biodiversity of the microbiome and the development of opportunistic pathogen colonisation, which upon interaction with the immune system, initiates local and systemic inflammation (3).

Obviously avoidance of the allergen is the best way to avoid an allergic reaction. There may be some things that we can do to reduce the onset or severity of allergic responses.

Lifestyle Recommendations

•       Use natural cleaning agents such as vinegar, bicarbonate of soda and lemon juice.

•       Use natural hygiene and skin care products. Check out your health food shop for these.

•       Spend time in nature and get your hands in the soil.

•       Avoid foods and drinks wrapped or bottled in plastic.

•       Support your immune system and your gut microbiome by eating a high nutrient diet, rich in organic fruit and veg, whole grains, pulses, nuts, seeds, fish, unprocessed meats and eggs (avoiding any foods to which you are allergic).

•       Get outside in daylight every day with some skin exposed. Through the winter supplement with vitamin D3.

In addition, some nutrients may be beneficial for those with allergies or to prevent allergic responses. These include:

Vitamin D - recent studies show that vitamin D helps modulate IgE responses and that a deficiency of vitamin D exacerbates allergies. Individuals with low UVB exposure have an increased risk of vitamin D deficiency and of allergies. Vitamin D is known as the sunshine vitamin because it is generated when the skin is exposed to UVB rays from the sun. These are the rays responsible for suntans. Vitamin D formation is diminished in people who live in northern latitudes, work indoors, or have darker skin. Individuals with low UVB exposure have an increased risk of vitamin D deficiency and of allergies and may benefit from supplementing with vitamin D.

Vitamin D deficiency also affects the composition of the microbiome and the integrity of the gut epithelial barrier (4).

Probiotics - studies suggest that altered composition of the microbiota, or dysbiosis, may result in alterations in the immune response to specific allergens. Dysbiosis appears to be associated with allergies, in particular asthma, atopic dermatitis, and food allergy. A link has been established between lung microbiota and respiratory allergy, between skin microbiota and atopic dermatitis, and between gut microbiota and food allergy. The composition of the human microbiota is influenced by diet, medications, health conditions and lifestyle (5).  One way of altering an imbalanced gut microbiome is to supplement with probiotics.

Omega 3 Oils - the typical Western diet provides too much omega 6 fat relative to omega 3 fat. This predisposes people to inflammatory responses and allergic reactions. Reducing the omega-6/3 ratio, through reductions in the intake of refined omega-6 seed oils, and increasing the intake of fish oils, either through diet or supplementation, may be an effective strategy for reducing inflammation, allergies, and autoimmune reactions (6).

Multivitamin/Mineral – taking a daily multivitamin can give an underlying level of nutrition that helps prevent deficiencies. This may be particularly important for those avoiding certain foods due to allergies.

References:

1.     https://www.allergyuk.org/news/its-allergy-awareness-week-2/

2.     J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2014 Feb;133(2):291-307; quiz 308. Food allergy: Epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment. Scott H Sicherer, Hugh A Sampson.

3.     Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2024 Jul;24(7):331-345. Lifestyle Changes and Industrialization in the Development of Allergic Diseases. Ceydet Ozdemir et al.

4.     Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Apr 20;22(8):4288. Vitamin D and Microbiota: Is There a Link with Allergies? Giuseppe Murdaca et al.

5.     J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol. 2022 Oct;32(5):327-344. Microbiome and Allergy: New Insights and Perspectives. E Zubeldia-Varela et al.