Today I decided to deviate from the challenge topic slightly. I didn't want to make up a cure but I thought I would talk about some of the research and clinical trials that are out there that may help result in a cure for food allergies and intolerances.
Unlike many allergic conditions, there are currently no proven treatments for food allergies except to avoid eating what you are allergic or intolerant to. Here are a few clinical trials out there currently that may prove to have promising results in the near future.
Immunotherapy. There are two types of immunotherapy, sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) and oral immunotherapy (OIT). The concept for both methods is the same. A food allergen is administered slowly in small increasing doses leading up to a stable daily dose. The goal is to teach the person's immune system to accept the allergen. The difference being the two approaches is in the way they are administered. In SILT, the allergen is given under the tongue and in OIT the patient ingests the allergen. Early studies of immunotherapy have had promising results but therapeutic effect and duration of benefit have not been proven. For more information check out the trial information at clinicaltrials.gov.
Xolair (omalizumab). A person who is allergic to something makes too much of a certain protein in the body called IgE antibody. This overproduction can result in the development of allergic conditions. Xolair is a drug that acts by binding to the IgE allergic antibody in the blood stream and blocks its actions. The FDA has approved Xolair for the treatment of moderate to severe asthma. There are a number of studies that are being conducted to use Xolair to treat other allergies such as food allergies but none have been approved yet. Although early studies appear promising, this treatment is still considered experimental and more research needs to be done on the drug's long-term safety.
Herbal formula-2, also known as Food Allergy Herbal Formula 2 (FAHF-2). This pill is based on Chinese herbal remedies. It contains nine botanicals that may aide with food allergies. So far in early clinical trials FAHF-2 has been safe and well tolerated and signs point that the medicine could be effective in treating food allergies. It is currently in the second phase of the study and is shown to have promising prolonged preventive effect up to 40 weeks. For more information check out the trial information at clinicaltrials.gov.
Again there is much research still needed before it is know if any of these have any long lasting effects on food allergies. So please consult your doctor before changing any of your current treatment plans. This is a list of just a few of the studies out there here is a complete list of the current food allergy studies. Also if you would like additional information on any of these studies check out the Food Allergy Initiative and the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology for up to date information.
Have you heard of any clinical studies or research being done to help find a cure for food allergies? I would love to hear about them please share them with me and your fellow readers.
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