Many people may believe that they are allergic to certain foods, but a new study shows they may be mistaken.
While 10 to 20 per cent of Germany's population complains about food intolerance, researchers at the University of Wuerzburg found that only 51 per cent of patients actually had an allergy.
They ruled allergies out in 49 per cent of cases in a study published recently in the Deutschen Aerzteblatt.
But simply suspecting a food allergy lowered a person's quality of life as they avoid certain foods and change their everyday habits.
Allergic symptoms do not always indicate a food allergy. Intolerance, intestinal diseases or psycho-vegetative reactions may account for the reactions. At the same time, people can develop new allergies or a previously manageable allergy can become a real problem.
A correct diagnosis can only be reached after an intensive allergy examination, said the researchers.
The study included 419 patients between 10 and 85 years. All arrived at the university by ambulance on suspicion of suffering from food allergies meaning that the group was highly self-selective and consequently the test results cannot be used as a random sample for the population at large.
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