Sweet potato

Sweet potato Scientific Information
Type: Whole Allergen
Display Name: Sweet potato
Allergen code: f54
Family: Convolvulaceae
Latin Name: Ipomoea batatas
Other Names: Sweet Potato, Sweetpotato, Yam, Batata

Clinical Relevance

IgE-mediated reactions

Anecdotal evidence suggests that Sweet potato can occasionally induce symptoms of food allergy in sensitized individuals; however, no studies have been reported to date. IgE antibodies to Sweet potato have been measured in children and in adults using the Pharmacia ImmunoCAP® System. Other species of Ipomea are involved in allergic pollinosis.

Other reactions

Sweet potato has been implicated as a cause of infantile food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES), a severe, cell-mediated gastrointestinal food hypersensitivity typically provoked by Cow’s milk or Soy. In a study of subjects with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), 70 fresh food extracts were applied to the back by the prick-by-prick method. SPT was positive in 17 (38.6%) treated patients, in 5 (16.1%) untreated patients and in 1 (3.3%) control. Three of 44 (17.6) of the treated patients were skin prick test-positive for Sweet potato. Sweet potato may be infected with the mould Fusarium solani, which produces a toxic substance, furanoterpenoid.

References
  1. Matsumaru S AMea. Clinical evaluation of Pharmacia CAP System new allergens for fish, vegetables, fruits and grains. Paper presented at Jap Soc Ped Allergol. 1992.
  2. Yamada M TS. Clinical evaluation of Pharmacia CAP System new food and inhalant allergens. Japanese Soc Allergol. 1992.
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  4. Mondal AK, Parui S, Mandal S. Protein profile of the allergenic pollen of Ipomoea fistulosa L.--a comparative study. Annals of agricultural and environmental medicine : AAEM. 1998;5(2):131-4.
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  6. Jun DW, Lee OY, Yoon HJ, Lee SH, Lee HL, Choi HS, et al. Food intolerance and skin prick test in treated and untreated irritable bowel syndrome. World journal of gastroenterology. 2006;12(15):2382-7.
  7. Parasakthy K, Shanthi S, Devaraj SN. Lung injury by furanoterpenoids isolated from Fusarium solani infected sweet potato, Ipomea batatas. Indian journal of experimental biology. 1993;31(4):397-8.
  8. Toda H, Nitta Y, Asanami S, Kim JP, Sakiyama F. Sweet potato beta-amylase. Primary structure and identification of the active-site glutamyl residue. European journal of biochemistry. 1993;216(1):25-38.
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