Alpha-gal Syndrome (Meat Allergy from Tick Bite)
Plus a book launch announcement!
Hey everyone,
The CDC estimates that 450,000 people in the US have Alpha-gal Syndrome, which causes an allergic reaction to meat from mammals (beef, pork, lamb, venison, etc.) The allergy symptoms can range from digestive issues several hours after eating meat to skin reactions or even anaphylaxis. The kicker is that the allergy symptoms occur 2 - 6 hours later and are often inconsistent, making it difficult to get a correct diagnosis.
The alpha-gal syndrome article was requested by a member, but the topic has been on my radar since digging into the new research on chronic Lyme. I'm not trying to scare anyone away from spending time in the woods, but just wanted to give you all a reminder to try to avoid ticks (wear long sleeves, tuck your pants into your hiking boots, etc). If you are looking at permethrin on your clothes as a tick repellent, I also have an article on the genes that detoxify permethrin.
Next up is a quick new article on a completely different topic. The DPYD gene codes for an enzyme that breaks down uracil. People with a mutation in this gene are more likely to react poorly to the cancer drug fluorouracil (5-FU).
And yes, you may have noticed that I've written multiple new articles for two weeks in a row -- which means that my book project, Histamine Lifehacks, is finally finished! It turns out that writing a book is hard work and takes up a lot of time. Who knew? Links below to my newly published book if you want to check it out.
Stay curious,
Debbie
Histamine Lifehacks goes beyond a simple low-histamine diet, offering a holistic approach to managing symptoms and getting to the root of the problem. You’ll learn about:
The functions of histamine in the body and how it relates to the immune system, digestive system, respiratory system, and nervous system
Genetic variations that can impact histamine metabolism
The role of the gut microbiome in regulating histamine levels
Environmental triggers and lifestyle factors that can exacerbate symptoms
Proven strategies for reducing histamine levels through diet, supplements, and lifestyle changes
Alpha-gal Syndrome: Meat allergy, tick bites, and genetics
Key takeaways:
~ Tick bites can cause some people to make IgE antibodies to galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal).
~ Some people with alpha-gal IgE antibodies have gastrointestinal reactions, hives, or even anaphylaxis a few hours after eating meat.
~ The delayed allergic reaction can make it difficult to pinpoint the source of the reaction, leading to misdiagnosis and many frustrating allergic reactions.
What is alpha-gal syndrome (AGS)?
Alpha-gal syndrome is an allergic or immune system reaction to galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (called alpha-gal), which is a carbohydrate found in the tissues of all mammals except for humans and other primates. In alpha-gal syndrome, people produce IgE antibodies to alpha-gal (galactose-α-1,3-galactose), which can then cause a delayed allergic reaction when they eat meat.
Symptoms of alpha-gal syndrome can include:[ref]
nausea, diarrhea, indigestion, abdominal pain
itching and hives (urticaria)
anaphylaxis
difficulty breathing, wheezing, chest tightness
throat itching or swelling of the throat
feeling lightheaded or fainting
These delayed allergy symptoms appear several hours after eating beef, pork, lamb, venison, elk, or other mammalian meats.
DPYD and fluorouracil
Key takeaways:
~ Variants in the DPYD gene impact 5-fluorouracil metabolism in cancer patients.
~ Knowing your genetics here can give you the “heads up” to talk with your doctor about DPYD variants before cancer treatment.
Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency:
Dihydropyridine dehydrogenase is an enzyme that breaks down uracil and thymine, which are two of the nucleotide base pairs that make up DNA and RNA. Essentially, the enzyme keeps the proper balance of the nucleotides in the cells. A deficiency in the enzyme can result in a build-up of uracil and thymine.
Having two copies of mutations in the DPYD gene can cause a more severe dihydropyridine dehydrogenase deficiency, which for some people results in neurological problems such as epilepsy, learning disabilities, motor skill problems, and autistic behaviors. This is rare, with
What I've been reading:
1) Notes from Beethoven's genome
A few years ago, researchers sequenced Beethoven's DNA from a strand of his hair. They made headlines with a paper about why Beethoven was at high risk for cirrhosis. This new study used polygenic models to see how Beethoven's genes stacked up against known musicality and rhythm genes. It turned out that the polygenic model showed Beethoven to be at the very low end of the musical gene score.
My opinion: The ability to screen an embryo for genetic disease in IVF has been around for a while, but companies are now offering polygenic risk testing to help couples choose their "best" embryo. Can you imagine... modern Beethoven's parents doing IVF and not selecting his embryo because of its poor genetic score for musicality?
This is a new study on the use of the ketogenic diet for psychiatric disorders. The 23 study participants included 5 with schizophrenia and 16 with bipolar disorder. Participants were monitored for ketone levels at 10 clinic visits over four months. 14 of the 23 participants were diet adherent (defined as 80% of ketone measurements above 0.5). The entire cohort (which included people who were partially adherent to the keto diet) showed an average improvement in symptom scores of 31%. Of the patients who were adherent to the keto diet (n=14), 50% met the definition of a recovered state at the end of the study.
This is another study showing that microplastics accumulate in atherosclerotic plaques in the arteries. The researchers found microplastic particles in all 17 partial plaque samples.
Animal studies, like this one, show how nanoplastics cause inflammation and oxidative stress in endothelial cells, which combine with oxidized cholesterol and macrophage activation to form atherosclerotic plaque.