Food allergies present a great challenge to individuals with these conditions. You must screen all foods and beverages you consume, especially in cases where reactions are severe. A study by the Institute for Healthcare Studies in Chicago, published in the June 2011 issue of “Pediatrics,” estimated that nearly one-third of children had multiple food allergies, more than previously had been believed. Peanuts topped the list of most common food allergies. Research has found that food allergies may play a role in kidney disease that is detected by high protein levels in the urine.
Kidney Disease
Your kidneys play a vital role in body function. It is their job to filter toxins and waste products out of your blood, which are then excreted. Lab tests that measure protein in the urine such as the microalbumin test are one way to detect some kidney ailments. Elevated protein levels are one indication that damage in the internal structure of the kidneys is occurring. Normally, protein should not be found in urine. Several conditions can lead to kidney disease, including diabetes, high blood pressure or excessive protein intake.
Chronic Inflammation
Individuals with food allergies experience an immune response to certain foods that their bodies have identified as harmful. The response is caused by a particular protein in the trigger food. The inflammatory response is one way your body may cope. You can develop chronic inflammation if you have not eliminated the trigger foods from your diet. If you have more than one food allergy, this task becomes more difficult. Chronic inflammation can lead to kidney disease, causing the excretion of protein in the urine.
Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome
Food allergies can result from some kidney ailments. One type of kidney disease common in children is idiopathic nephrotic syndrome. An individual with this condition may experience fatigue, abdominal pain and food allergies. The term "idiopathic" means that a specific cause has not been identified. Lab tests reveal high protein in the urine and low protein levels in the blood. Treatment involves a customized approach for the patient. Medications and diet changes can help alleviate the symptoms. While it may go into remission at puberty, you can still have a reoccurrence of this condition as an adult.
Evidence
Research has provided evidence that following an oligoantigenic diet may offer some health benefits for those with multiple food allergies. An oligoantigenic diet eliminates the most common food triggers, such as peanuts, seafood and milk. Following this diet can reduce inflammation and reduce the toll on the kidneys. A study by the Hôpital Henri-Mondor in France, published in the January 1987 issue of “Nephron,” found that an oligoantigenic diet reduced protein loss in the urine in all participants. Levels dropped by more than 50 percent in more than two-thirds of the patients. These findings show that dietary changes can provide a means for controlling some types of kidney disease.
References
- Pediatrics: The Prevalence, Severity, and Distribution of Childhood Food Allergy in the United States
- Rader's Biology4Kids.com: Excretion Is Not Elimination
- Lab Tests Online: Microalbumin and Microalbumin/Creatinine Ratio
- Arizona Center for Advanced Medicine: Inflammation
- Dr. McDougall's Health and Medical Center: Kidney Disease (Kidney Failure, Nephritis)
- Lucille Packard Children's Hospital at Sanford: Nephrotic Syndrome
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