Blueberry
Route Of Exposure
Other topics
A green dye is obtained from the leaves and the fruit and is used to colour fabrics. A blue or black dye is obtained from the fruit. This can be used as an ink. Blueberry juice can also be used as an oral contrast agent in upper abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Clinical Relevance
IgE-mediated reactions
Anecdotal evidence suggests that Blueberry can occasionally induce symptoms of food allergy in sensitised individuals; however, no studies have been reported to date. This may be related to the generally low allergenicity of this berry, the small amounts consumed, or the restricted time frame of consumption. Low exposure to certain allergens might be the reason for the limited complaints recorded so far, but with the ongoing promotion of the consumption of small fruits, this situation might change. For example, a 25-year-old woman reported adverse reactions to the close family member lingonberry (V. vitis-idaea). While eating lingonberry jam, she developed itching wheals around her mouth. Symptoms resolved spontaneously. During a second episode, when she again ingested a very small amount of lingonberry jam several days later, she immediately noticed more-intense symptoms, including severe itching on the mouth, tongue and throat, and wheals over the mouth. Symptoms resolved spontaneously within an hour. Skin reactivity testing using a prick-prick method with fresh lingonberry was positive. In a study aimed at characterizing allergens from Raspberry, sera from 8 female patients were assessed. A 25-year-old with periorbital oedema and rhinitis from Lemon and other citrus fruits was described, who was prick-to-prick positive to Peach, Lemon, Sweet Lime, Orange, Banana, Blueberry, Tomato, Grape and Bell pepper.
Cross-Reactivity
Although none has been documented to date, there may be cross-reactivity with other fruits in the genus Vaccinium, which are erroneously called Cranberries. V. vitis-idaea (cowberry, foxberry, mountain cranberry, rock cranberry, lingonberry) is not cultivated but gathered, and is used in Europe, especially in Scandinavia, in food products such as preserves and beverages. Blueberry has been shown to contain a lipid transfer protein that is cross-reactive with LTPs of a number of foods, in particular stone fruits, e.g., Pru p 3 (Peach), Pru a 3 (Apricot), and Pru av 3 (Cherry). Raspberry also contains an LTP-homologous protein, and LTPs have been identified in, among others, Grape, Chestnut, Hazelnut, Maize, Barley, Asparagus, Carrot and Lettuce.
References
- Matheu V, Baeza ML, Zubeldia JM, Barrios Y. Allergy to lingonberry: A case report. Clinical and molecular allergy : CMA. 2004;2(1):2.
- Marzban G, Mansfeld A, Hemmer W, Stoyanova E, Katinger H, da Câmara Machado ML. Fruit cross-reactive allergens: a theme of uprising interest for consumers' health. BioFactors (Oxford, England). 2005;23(4):235-41.
- Speer F. Food Allergy. Second Edition 1983
- Marzban G, Herndl A, Kolarich D, Maghuly F, Mansfeld A, Hemmer W, et al. Identification of four IgE-reactive proteins in raspberry (Rubus ideaeus L.). Molecular nutrition & food research. 2008;52(12):1497-506.