The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, recognizes soy as a food allergen. It triggers an abnormal immunologic response to a protein found in soy. However, it is not known precisely which protein component in soy is responsible for this harmful effect. If you have a soy allergy, you should avoid all soy foods for the purpose of general wellness. These include soy milk, soy sprouts, soy flour and miso. Soy allergies are commonly observed in children who have a history of cow's milk allergy.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of soy allergy are mainly associated with gastric disturbances. These symptoms are often misdiagnosed as gas, bloating, acid reflux and overfeeding. Other manifestations of soy allergy may include skin rashes, itching, scaling, blistering, shortness of breath and low pulse. Allergic individuals may also experience gradual worsening of difficulty in swallowing.
Who Gets Soy Allergy?
Soy allergies are usually found in infants. Adults do suffer from soy allergy, but it is rare. If your child has allergies to soy, the doctor may suggest a hypoallergenic formula. Although soy allergies cannot be totally prevented or eliminated, they can be treated successfully. Soy allergy can be delayed by not giving your infant solid foods until 6 months. The infant should be breastfed for the first six months of his life.
Specific Soy Allergens
Soy contains at least 15 allergens; these molecules have the potential to trigger an allergic reaction. A major protein in soy, 2S globulin, has the highest allergenic potency. According to a study at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Gly m 5, or conglycinin, and Gly m 6, or glycinin, are the most abundant allergens in soybeans. Gly m 3, or profilin, and Gly m 4, a Bet v 1 homologue, are other possible allergens in soy. The soy trypsin inhibitor has been reported as a minor allergen.
Difference Between Food Allergy and Food Intolerance
With food allergy, your immune system produces an inflammatory response, giving you symptoms. A food allergy can range from a mild illness to a life-threatening complication. Food intolerance does not involve the body's immune system but generates some of the same symptoms as food allergy.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Soy
- College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences: Soy Allergy
- Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis: Food Allergies
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Food Allergy Identification, Characterization and Stability
- Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis: Food Allergies
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