Why Food Allergies May Be Increasing

Food allergies have become more common these past few years in both adults as well as children. Allergies are defined as the immune system’s overreaction to an antibody known as immunoglobulin E. This protein is usually produced by the immune system to help detect and attack invaders.

When the body identifies a threat, it triggers histamine production, which in turn prompts an allergic reaction in an effort to eliminate the threat. You may notice that when an individual is reacting to something, their skin may itch and their tissues inflame; they may also wheeze, sneeze or cough.

Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that about 4% to 8% of children and roughly 2% of adults suffer from food allergies. However, some researchers believe that the figures are higher across the board, with some even going as far as to describe the allergies as an epidemic.

Allergies are rarely lethal but can be dangerous. It is estimated that about 200 individuals in America succumb to food-related allergies. Additionally, allergies cause about 2,000 hospitalizations and 30,000 visits to the ER.

Managing allergies isn’t cheap, with estimates showing that between hospitalizations, doctor visits, drugs and lost productivity, the American economy loses nearly $25 billion annually.

The question on the minds of many: Why are food allergies on the rise? There are many theories on this, but experts believe that the rates of food allergies are increasing because of the following:

Exposure timing

In the past, clinical guidelines suggested that children avoid all food allergens during infancy. However, new studies have found that exposing children to these allergens actually decreased allergy rates.

Hygiene

Some experts believe that the improvements made to cleanliness and sanitation standards may have prompted an increase in rates of food allergies. This, they explain, is because the presence of fewer parasites and germs causes the immune system to turn against harmless things as it considers them to be allergens.

Vitamin D deficiency

Vitamin D, which plays a crucial role in immune system regulation, is usually produced by the human body once an individual is exposed to sunlight. However, declining levels of vitamin D across populations have prompted an increase in food allergies.

It is theorized that individuals in wealthier nations spend less time outside and more time indoors.

Aging

Researchers also theorize that the immune system aging in adults may cause it to become sensitized to a particular allergen as time goes by.

Various for-profit entities such as Aditxt Inc. (NASDAQ: ADXT) are focusing on coming up with innovative ways to retrain the immune system so that it doesn’t react abnormally to ordinary substances in the environment or in food. If those efforts succeed, the millions suffering from food allergies could have a lifeline.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Aditxt Inc. (NASDAQ: ADTX) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/ADTX

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