Whey Allergic Reaction

Nearly two-thirds of the world's adults, including close to 50 million Americans, develop digestive distress from dairy products. For most of them, the problem is an inability to process lactose, a milk sugar. Some of those adults, however, never outgrew a childhood milk allergy. Sensitivity to milk proteins, including whey, affects up to 5 percent of children younger than 3, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.

Whey Poteins

The curds and whey of Little Miss Muffett's nursery rhyme are known today as cottage cheese. Curds are solid milk proteins, or caseins. Liquid whey, largely composed of beta-lactoglobulin and alpha-lactalbumin proteins, accounts for 20 percent of milk's volume. Researchers at Taiwan’s Mackay Memorial Hospital studied 30 milk-allergic children between the ages of 16 months and 9.5 years. Their findings, published in the March/April 1998 "Zhonghua Min Guo Xiao Er Ke Yi Xue Hui Za Zhi," found that six of 30 children had allergies to one or both whey proteins. Another eight were allergic to casein and ALA, while 11 had allergies to casein and both whey proteins. Only five, or about 17 percent, were sensitive to casein alone.

Allergic Reaction

An allergic reaction occurs when the immune system identifies whey proteins as invading organisms. It mounts the same offense against them that it uses to fight harmful germs or viruses. The immune system releases immunoglobulin E antibodies specific to the proteins making their way through the digestive tract. These antibodies attach to mast-tissue and blood cells. They stimulate those cells to release the inflammatory chemicals, including histamines, responsible for allergic reaction symptoms.

Symptoms

Whey allergy symptoms appear within minutes to a few hours. Typical reactions include itching, hives and facial or oral swelling. Some people experience diarrhea, nausea or vomiting. Respiratory system involvement causes nasal discharge, watering eyes, sneezing, wheezing or coughing. Highly sensitive people may develop anaphylaxis. This potentially deadly condition may cause respiratory shutdown, plunging blood pressure or fainting. Anaphylactic shock needs immediate medical attention.

Diagnosing Whey Allergy

A skin prick test performed by an allergist determines the blood level of IgE antibodies. The allergist pricks the forearm or back where a drop of milk has been placed. Within 20 minutes, an inflamed, itchy spot will surface on the skin of a milk-allergic person. The CAP-RAST blood test isolates the specific casein or whey proteins causing the allergy.

Avoiding Whey

Food labels, by law, must list milk as a potential allergen. Processed whey, however, has found its way into numerous processed foods as an inexpensive, protein-rich dairy byproduct. A partial list of whey derivatives includes lactose and lactose minerals, whey powders, and whey protein concentrates. These derivatives show up in a range of foods, including baked goods, soups, sauces, sports nutrition supplements, baby food and even meat.