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Allergies

Carrot allergies

04/12/2005

Question:

I am severly allergic to carrots. Is Beta Carotene something I should be careful of? Thank you

Answer:

It depends what the mechanism of your carrot allergy is.  It has to be determined whether you have a true carrot allergy or a condition referred to as oral itch syndrome which is actually a reaction to tree pollen allergens due to conserved tree allergen proteins found in carrots that occurs in individuals with seasonal allergic rhinitis to tree pollen.  Cooking carrots usually denatures the proteins so they are no longer "allergenic".  Beta-carotene has not been linked as a major allergen in carrot allergic individuals.  You need to see an allergist to clarify what is going on.

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Response by:

University of Cincinnati Jonathan Bernstein, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
Division of Immunology and Allergy
Department of Internal Medicine
College of Medicine
University of Cincinnati
Jonathan   Bernstein, MD