2023-08-04 10:51:33
HomeGuideHealth
Status: 08/04/2023, 12:51 p.m
By: Laura Knops
If you are allergic to apples, you don’t have to go without. Well-known apple varieties are also suitable for allergy sufferers.
Berlin – Apples are one of the most popular types of fruit in Germany – but around four million people in this country are allergic to the healthy fruit. If you bite into an apple, the result is itching, redness, swollen mucous membranes and breathing difficulties. Hay fever sufferers often develop an apple allergy over time. About half of those who are allergic to birch pollen are allergic to the popular fruit. This is due to a cross-reaction: since the apple allergen Mal d 1 is very similar to the birch pollen allergen Bet v 1, the immune system mistakenly reacts with an allergic reaction.
Apple varieties: These apples are also suitable for allergy sufferers
However, what many people who are allergic to apples do not know is that the allergic reaction often only occurs with certain varieties. Especially new apple varieties from the supermarket lead to unpleasant symptoms. Older varieties such as Alkemene, Eifeler Rambur, Goldparmäne or Roter Boskoop can often be enjoyed by allergy sufferers without any problems. An observational study by the Charité Berlin Allergy Center has now investigated which apples allergy sufferers tolerate better and how the regular consumption of low-allergen apples affects the allergic reaction.
Allergy to apples: Older apple varieties better tolerated
As part of the study, the scientists working with study leader Karl-Christian Bergmann examined a total of 85 apple allergy sufferers for a period of 90 days. All participants initially reacted with typical allergic symptoms following eating a “Golden Delicious” apple. The subjects then ate an old, low-allergen apple variety, Alkemene, Eifeler Rambur, Goldparmäne or Roter Boskoop, every day for three months. At the end of the study, they were allowed to taste another “Golden Delicious” apple.
Apple varieties: After just three months, the symptoms decrease
The results of the study show that those who eat low-allergen apples more often develop a tolerance to new varieties. After regular consumption of the old apple varieties, the participants tolerated the new varieties much better than at the beginning of the study. “Our study has shown that regular consumption of old apple varieties means that newer, more allergenic apple varieties are also better tolerated,” explains Professor Karl-Christian Bergmann from the Charité Berlin Allergy Center.
The researchers also explain: “On average, the amount that the study participants might consume has changed from half an apple to three quarters of a Golden Delicious.” Not only were the test subjects able to eat larger amounts of the apples, the severity of the allergic reaction was also significantly reduced. The apple allergy sufferers showed significantly fewer symptoms following 90 days.
This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. In no way does it replace a visit to the doctor. Unfortunately, our editors are not allowed to answer individual questions regarding clinical pictures.
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