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Insights into Dietary Therapies for Food Allergies

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutritional Immunology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 August 2026 | Viewed by 325

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department Of Allergy Section, Hospital General Universitario, Ciudad Real, Spain
Interests: allergic diseases; immunology; respiratory diseases; allergic dermatitis; food allergy
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Food allergy is a growing public health issue in industrialized countries, significantly impairing patients' quality of life. It is defined as an aberrant immune response to food proteins, leading to reproducible symptoms involving dermatologic, respiratory, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, or neurologic systems.

IgE-mediated reactions manifest rapidly (within 1–2 hours post-ingestion), whereas non-IgE-mediated forms present with delayed onset (from >2 hours to several days). Clinical severity ranges from mild cutaneous symptoms to life-threatening anaphylaxis.

Diagnosis of IgE-mediated allergy is based on clinical history, detection of food-specific IgE (via skin prick testing and/or serum assays), and confirmation through double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge (DBPCFC). Non-IgE-mediated allergies primarily affect the gastrointestinal tract and are organ-specific. Eosinophilic esophagitis requires endoscopic biopsy for diagnosis; food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES) is typically confirmed via supervised oral food challenge.

Management consists of strict allergen avoidance. However, accidental exposures remain a persistent risk. In selected cases, oral immunotherapy has emerged as a therapeutic option with growing evidence of efficacy and safety.

This Special Issue focuses on dietary and nutritional strategies for the prevention and management of food allergies, including dietary interventions, feeding patterns, allergen-free food formulation, and nutritional impacts of elimination diets.

Dr. Elisa Gómez-Torrijos
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • food allergy
  • IgE-mediated food allergy
  • non-IgE-mediated food allergy
  • milk
  • egg
  • fish/seafish
  • nuts
  • legumes
  • fish
  • lipid-binding protein
  • bird-egg syndrome
  • oral immunotherapy
  • omalizumab
  • eosinophilic esophagitis
  • food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES)

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

18 pages, 1106 KB  
Article
IgE-Mediated Legume Allergy in Children: Insights from a Single-Center Experience in Italy
by Beatrice Serra, Simona Barni, Claudia Valleriani, Beatrice Coppadoro, Francesco Catamerò, Letizia Ciliberti, Mattia Giovannini, Giulia Liccioli, Lucrezia Sarti, Leonardo Tomei, Antonella Muraro and Francesca Mori
Nutrients 2026, 18(11), 1810; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18111810 - 4 Jun 2026
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Legume allergy is increasingly recognized as plant-based diets expand and legume proteins are widely used in processed foods. We aimed to characterize the clinical features, sensitization profiles, and management outcomes of IgE-mediated legume allergy in Italian children. Methods: This retrospective [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Legume allergy is increasingly recognized as plant-based diets expand and legume proteins are widely used in processed foods. We aimed to characterize the clinical features, sensitization profiles, and management outcomes of IgE-mediated legume allergy in Italian children. Methods: This retrospective single-center study (January 2022–January 2024) included children (<18 years) allergic to ≥1 index legume (pea, lentil, chickpea, common bean, or soy). Diagnosis required a compatible clinical history and evidence of IgE sensitization. Clinical and allergy characteristics were analyzed. Results: Fifty-five children (63.6% male) were included; all had atopic comorbidities, and 96.4% had additional food allergies. Median age at first reaction was 18 months; anaphylaxis occurred at onset in 12.7%, most frequently triggered by pea. Pea (70.9%) and lentil (69.1%) were the most prevalent allergies, with pea causing 50% of index-legume anaphylaxis. Multi-legume allergy predominated (74.5%), with frequent co-allergy among pea, lentil, and chickpea (56–86%). Soy allergy was less frequent and mainly associated with Gly m 4 sensitization. Single-legume allergy (25.5%) was associated with later onset (54 vs. 15 months; p = 0.013) and liver transplantation (21% vs. 2%; p = 0.047). Peanut co-allergy occurred in 25.5%. Among 34 oral food challenges (OFCs), 23.5% were positive, including one case of pea-induced anaphylaxis. Of 16 oral immunotherapy (OIT) protocols initiated, 31.3% reached the full target maintenance dose, 37.5% remained on a lower, partial maintenance dose, and 31.3% were discontinued due to oral allergy syndrome (OAS). Conclusions: Pediatric legume allergy is characterized by early onset, frequent multi-legume involvement, and common co-allergies. In this cohort, pea allergy was associated with the highest proportion of severe reactions. Species-specific differences in severity, patterns of multi-legume involvement, and OIT outcomes should be interpreted cautiously given the limited sample size, while highlighting the need for tailored management and improved risk assessment across legume species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insights into Dietary Therapies for Food Allergies)
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