Cotton seed
Summary
A food, which may result in allergy symptoms in sensitised individuals.
Clinical Relevance
IgE-mediated reactions
Allergic reactions to cotton seed may occur uncommonly. These need to be differentiated from adverse reactions to cotton seed dust, which have been described under cotton, crude fibres. The most common exposure to cotton seed may occur in a number of occupational situations, e.g. the handling of the seeds as cattle food, and also the handling of the seeds when sowing.
Systemic allergic reactions in 7 individuals were reported after ingestion of a newly marketed food supplement which contained cotton seed flour. Double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenges performed in 2 subjects with cotton seed flour produced reactions consisting of oropharyngeal pruritus, rhinitis, nausea, diaphoresis, dyspnoea, cough, and a fall in pulmonary function tests of 45% or more. Skin-specific IgE with food supplement extracts showed marked sensitisation of all 7 subjects to cotton seed protein.
Adverse effects to other foods containing cotton seed protein have also been described. Anaphylaxis was reported after ingestion of candy and bread containing cotton seed. A 29-year-old developed a severe allergic reaction after eating whole-grain bread which appeared to contain cotton seed protein flour. Skin-specific IgE tests with the bread and cotton seed were strongly positive, and high levels of specific IgE to cotton seed protein could be demonstrated in the patient’s blood samples. The authors pointed out that cotton seed flour is used in diverse products and can cause unexpected severe hypersensitivity reactions.
In an Indian study of 24 children aged 3 years to 15 years, with documented deterioration in the control of their perennial asthma during the months of August and September, specific IgE for a range of food items were determined and it was found that 8 (33%) of this group were sensitised to Cottonseed.
Three hundred and twenty-four patients were evaluated for sensitisation to seeds. Few patients were allergic to mustard seed (4%), poppy seed (1.9%), cotton seed (0.9%) and rape seed (0.9%). The authors emphasised that many of the study group did not know whether they had ever ingested the seeds or were purposely avoiding the seeds as a prophylactic measure (mustard, 40%; cotton seed, 42%; poppy seed, 41%; and rape seed, 26%).
Gossypol, a toxic pigment, occurs in some cultivars (it has been bred out of others) and may result in adverse reactions if ingested.
See also Cotton, crude fibres
Cross-Reactivity
Extensive cross-reactivity among the different individual species of the Malvaceae family could be expected.
References
- Final report on the safety assessment of Hydrogenated Cottonseed Oil, Cottonseed (Gossypium) Oil, Cottonseed Acid, Cottonseed Glyceride, and Hydrogenated Cottonseed Glyceride. International journal of toxicology. 2001;20 Suppl 2:21-9.
- Atkins FM, Wilson M, Bock SA. Cottonseed hypersensitivity: new concerns over an old problem. The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology. 1988;82(2):242-50.
- Malanin G KK. Was the candy really responsible for the anaphylaxis in a cottonseed-sensitive patient? [Letter] The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology. 1990;86(2):277-8.
- O'Neil CE LS. Anaphylaxis apparently caused by a cottonseed-containing candy ingested on a commercial airliner. [Letter] The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology. 1989;84(3):407.
- Malanin G, Kalimo K. Angioedema and urticaria caused by cottonseed protein in whole-grain bread. The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology. 1988;82(2):261-4.
- Agarkhedkar SR, Bapat HB, Bapat BN. Avoidance of food allergens in childhood asthma. Indian pediatrics. 2005;42(4):362-6.
- Maloney JM, Rudengren M, Ahlstedt S, Bock SA, Sampson HA. The use of serum-specific IgE measurements for the diagnosis of peanut, tree nut, and seed allergy. The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology. 2008;122(1):145-51.
- González de Olano D, Subiza JL, Civantos E. Cutaneous allergy to cotton. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2009;102(3):263-4.
- L. Y. Botanical relations and immunological cross-reactions in pollen allergy. 2nd ed. Pharmacia Diagnostics AB. Uppsala. Sweden. Pharmacia Diagnostics AB Uppsala Sweden. 1982.