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Sugar-beet seed

Sugar-beet seed

Sugar-beet seed Scientific Information
Type: Whole Allergen
Display Name: Sugar-beet seed
Allergen code: f227
Family: Amaranthaceae (Chenopodiaceae)
Latin Name: Beta vulgaris
Other Names: Sugar-beet seed, Sugar beet seed
WHO/ICD-11 code: XE8XA

Clinical Relevance

IgE-mediated reactions

Sugar-beet seed may uncommonly induce allergy symptoms in sensitised individuals, predominantly in occupational settings such as the animal feed industry and farms. In a prospective open study over 8 months in a group of 10 atopic children with repeated urticaria, based on oral challenge tests along with history, there were 3 cases of allergy to food colourings. Clinical features were mainly skin symptoms, sometimes associated with GI manifestations which were non specific. Removal of the colorants resulted in the disappearance of the symptoms in a child (Red cochineal) and regression of symptoms in two others (Red cochineal, Red beet). It was not clear whether this is beetroot or sugar beet but both are closely related family members.

Other topics

The fresh leaf may cause poisoning due to the 1% oxalic acid content. The leaf may also contain dangerous levels of HCN and/or nitrates and nitrites.

References
  1. Zenaidi M, Pauliat S, Chaliier P, Fratta A, Girardet JP. Allergy to food colouring. A prospective study in ten children. [French] Tunis Med 2005;83(7):414-8
  2. Berglund L, Brunstedt J, Nielsen KK, Chen Z, Mikkelsen JD, Marcker KA. A proline-rich chitinase from Beta vulgaris. Plant Mol Biol 1995;27(1):211-6
  3. Nielsen KK, Nielsen JE, Madrid SM, Mikkelsen JD. Characterization of a new antifungal chitin-binding peptide from sugar beet leaves. Plant Physiol 1997;113(1):83-91
  4. Nielsen KK, Nielsen JE, Madrid SM, Mikkelsen JD. New antifungal proteins from sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) showing homology to non-specific lipid transfer proteins. Plant Mol Biol 1996;31(3):539-52