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Triggers of allergies and intolerances

An allergy is an excessive reaction of the immune system after repeated contact with substances that it recognizes as foreign and potentially dangerous, so-called allergens (usually proteins). The tendency to such a reaction is genetically inherited and can be triggered by various environmental influences. Non-immunological intolerances (especially of food) are called intolerances. This occurs, among other things, when the body lacks a certain enzyme to break down a food or to transport it through the intestinal wall. Symptoms similar to those of intolerances can also occur if the small intestine is colonized with colon bacteria (DDFB, SIBO). To find out whether you have an allergy, intolerance or intolerance to certain substances, ask your doctor to refer you for an allergy test at our Allergiezentrum.
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Allergy triggers

Typical triggers of allergies

lactose intolerance

Lactose intolerance is an intolerance to milk sugar due to an enzyme deficiency. The symptoms are often abdominal pain, a feeling of fullness and diarrhea. The diagnosis is made using an H2 breath test.

In contrast to milk allergy, lactose intolerance is caused by the lack of a special enzyme (lactase). Lactose itself is not absorbed and then reaches the large intestine, where local bacteria break down the lactose. This creates intestinal gases and acids, which can lead to significant discomfort with abdominal pain, sometimes colic-like pain, flatulence and watery diarrhea.

A detailed medical history is crucial for the diagnosis. A food diary can be very helpful here. The diagnosis can be confirmed using the lactose tolerance test or the H2 breath test.

To find out whether you have an allergy or intolerance to certain substances, ask your doctor to refer you to a consultation at the allergy center. The doctor will then plan the necessary and appropriate tests with you.

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fructose malabsorption

Fructose malabsorption, also known as fruit sugar intolerance, is the body's reduced ability to absorb fruit sugar (fructose). Consuming foods containing fructose can then lead to abdominal cramps, bloating and diarrhea.

The cause of fructose malabsorption lies in a disruption of the GLUT-5 transport system, which in healthy people ensures the absorption of fructose from the small intestine. If absorption is disrupted, the fructose ingested with food reaches deeper parts of the intestine, where it is broken down by bacteria. This produces large amounts of hydrogen, carbon dioxide and short-chain fatty acids, which can lead to abdominal pain, flatulence and diarrhea.

Keeping a food diary followed by dietary advice can be a game-changer. Fructose malabsorption is diagnosed using an H2 breath test.

If you suffer from the rare form of congenital (hereditary) fructose intolerance (which is diagnosed in infancy), this test must not be carried out.

To find out whether you have an allergy or intolerance to certain substances, ask your doctor to refer you to a medical consultation at the allergy center. The doctor will then plan the necessary examinations that are useful for you together with you.

 

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sorbitol intolerance

Sorbitol is often used in the food industry as a sugar substitute. Sorbitol intolerance results in reduced absorption of sorbitol through the intestines into the blood. The unabsorbed sorbitol is broken down by bacteria in the intestines and leads to the production of hydrogen (H2). This can lead to abdominal pain, flatulence, a feeling of fullness and diarrhea.

Keeping a food diary followed by dietary advice can provide important clues as to whether sorbitol intolerance is present. Diagnosis is made using an H2 breath test.

To find out whether you have an allergy or intolerance to certain substances, ask your doctor to refer you to a consultation at the allergy center. The doctor will then plan the necessary and appropriate tests with you.

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Bacterial colonization of the small intestine (glucose test)

When there is bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine, bacteria that do not normally occur here accumulate in this area. As a result, food components are broken down prematurely by these bacteria and gases are produced. The typical symptoms are flatulence, diarrhea and weight loss.

Bacteria are also normally present in certain parts of the intestine. They perform an important role in digestion and immune defense. However, if the wrong intestinal bacteria are present in too large numbers in the wrong place in the intestine, symptoms can arise (bacterial overgrowth, SIBO = small intestinal bacterial overgrowth). Sugar (glucose) in particular is then broken down early by these bacteria and intestinal gases (e.g. hydrogen, H2) are produced. This can then lead to various symptoms, such as bloating, a feeling of fullness or diarrhea.

The medical history is often very unspecific. A specific food cannot always be identified. Therefore, diagnosis using an H2 breath test is important. If the test is positive, intestinal cleansing (usually antibiotics) can be carried out after consultation with a gastroenterologist.

It can often be important to rule out lactose intolerance or fructose malabsorption before glucose testing, which can also be a cause of bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine.

To find out whether you have an allergy or intolerance to certain substances, ask your doctor to refer you to a consultation at the allergy center. The doctor will then plan the necessary tests that are useful for you together with you.

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Histamine intolerance (diamine oxidase deficiency)

Histamine is a substance produced by the body and is present in many foods (e.g. wine, cheese, salami, canned food). Histamine intolerance occurs when a person reacts with an intolerance reaction to even small amounts of histamine ingested with food.

Foods that are produced by microorganisms are particularly rich in histamine. In the body, histamine is broken down by the enzyme diamine oxidase (DAO), among others. If there is an enzyme deficiency or a histamine/DAO imbalance, this is referred to as histamine intolerance.

Histamine intolerance can cause numerous different symptoms such as headaches, reddening and itching of the skin, feeling hot, tiredness, dizziness, cardiac arrhythmias and palpitations, breathing difficulties, a blocked or runny nose, or digestive problems (diarrhea, stomach pain, flatulence), headaches and skin rashes.

If you suffer from one or more of the symptoms typical of histamine intolerance, it is advisable to first keep a diet diary for about 2 weeks and discuss this with our nutrition team. In addition, a blood test can be helpful, which can determine the histamine concentration and DAO activity in the serum.

To find out whether you have an allergy or intolerance to certain substances, ask your doctor to refer you to a doctor's consultation at the allergy center. The doctor will then plan the necessary and useful examinations with you.

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