LTP syndrome is a type of allergy that is somewhat more common than is believed and makes life very difficult for those who suffer from it. It is an allergy that eliminates almost all important foods such as fruits and vegetables from the plate. We are going to explain in depth what it is, its symptoms and how it is diagnosed.
Sometimes, throughout our lives, we notice changes with food. One day milk suddenly makes us sick, peaches give us allergies, eggs make us vomit, or lettuce gives us gastroenteritis. It may not only be because the food is in poor condition, but also because we may be developing an allergy. That is, a reaction of our body to a food, and it may never have happened to us before.
Allergy to LTP is more common than you think, and we are going to explain in depth what it is, at what age it usually occurs, how it is diagnosed, what are the symptoms of LTP syndrome and what foods are the ones that cause this type of allergy .
What is LTP protein?
Actually LTP stands for lipid transfer protein. In Spanish it would be PTL, that is, lipid transport proteins and they are defense enzymes that are found in almost all vegetables, plants, leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds, pollen, etc. It is a method of defense that plants have and that is why they are involved in the vast majority of allergic processes.
It is known as the protein of the plant world, to give us an idea of the seriousness of the matter. It is a very complex allergy that complicates the lives of patients and doctors , since it is not easy to detect, nor is it easy to live with it.
A very typical allergy in the Mediterranean, especially in Spain and Italy. Since in both we have a very varied diet where many foods with this protein are included.
These enzymes are very resistant, that is, they are not eliminated with cold or heat as happens with bacteria, for example. This is one of the reasons that complicates the diet of allergy sufferers, since they cannot drink beer, or juices, or prepared meals such as precooked foods, or cans in syrup, or jams, etc.
At what age and how is it diagnosed?
As we say, allergies can arise almost at any time. moreover, just as they come out, they can disappear. In the case of LTP allergy, it is common in adults, but there are no general recommendations, since each case is different, including the symptoms and the stage of life in which the patient is.
For example, before and after menstruation, women are more prone to allergic reactions, as well as during pregnancy, boys in adolescence, or both sexes in adulthood, etc.
The diagnosis of LTP is made by an allergist through clinical history, skin tests, serological analysis, food exposure tests , trial and error, etc. It is a very complicated allergy, since, as we say, it is the protein of the plant world, so it is present in many different foods, and even in pollen. This sometimes leads to false positives, so it’s a good idea to have all possible tests at hand before jumping to a conclusion.
The only treatment that exists today is to avoid foods that have this lipid-transporting protein. At the end of the text we will indicate all those prohibited foods.
Symptoms
The symptoms of this peculiar allergy are very different, as can happen with any allergy, from a simple skin irritation to anaphylactic shock . Therefore, you have to be careful, that’s why babies are introduced so little by little to the world of fruits, vegetables, eggs, etc.
Also, to add insult to injury, not all of us have the same symptoms, nor is there a letter of symptoms that we all fit into. What’s more, to curl the loop, we can be asymptomatic, that is, have an allergy and not present visible symptoms. All this complicates the work of allergists.
- itching
- hives
- Reddened areas.
- Swollen lips.
- Sickness.
- vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
- abdominal pain
- Rhinitis.
- Conjunctivitis.
- Respiration problems.
- Glottic edema.
- Anaphylaxis.
- Anaphylactic shock.
There are a number of factors that can cause the symptoms, worsen the situation and trigger this allergy for the first time. Exercise, consumption of anti-inflammatory medication, alcohol and drugs, hormonal changes (pregnancies, menstruation and menopause), stress and exhaustion, etc.
Not only this, but whoever is allergic to PTL may also be allergic to pollen and even latex . What’s more, being allergic to some fruit is not a sign of being intolerant to this protein, but it may be to that particular fruit or vegetable or even to fructose.
That is why allergy tests must be done consciously and thoroughly, and not rushed and out of the way. Many times they are streaks that give us intolerances or some foods make us feel bad, it is something typical in summer and spring, which increases cases of gastroenteritis.
What foods cause this allergy
We have already made it clear that this allergy is from the plant world and is present in many plants, daughters, and even in pollen. It is a defense mechanism of plants and it is very difficult to make it disappear, so the life of a person with LPT syndrome is quite complicated.
- Peach.
- Apple.
- Strawberries.
- Cherries.
- Plums.
- Apricot.
- Peach (the one that usually gives more allergy of this type).
- raspberries.
- Quince
- Pear.
- Peanuts.
- Soy.
- almonds
- Bean.
- Green beans.
- Grape.
- Lemon.
- Orange.
- Tangerine.
- Banana.
- Kiwi.
- Blackberry.
- Grenade.
- Cabbage.
- Corn.
- Cauliflower.
- Broccoli.
- Cabbage.
- Asparagus.
- Lettuce.
- Carrot.
- Celery.
- Parsley.
- Turnip.
- Wheat.
- Barley.
- Hazelnuts.
- chestnuts
- Sunflower seeds.
- Mustard.
- Linen.
- Saffron.
- Fennel.
- Different types of pollen.
- Shade trees such as olive and plane trees.
- Shrubs such as mugwort, parietaria and ragweed.
- There may also be an allergy to latex.
