How many peanuts lead to an allergic reaction?

Some people suffer from allergies when eating certain foods such as peanuts, as it can cause itching or tingling in the mouth, shortness of breath or nausea within minutes after eating it.

These complications can be dangerous or life-threatening in some cases. According to the Medic Forum medical site, treatment with an injection of epinephrine and a doctor’s appointment may be required as soon as possible.

Due to those complications that peanuts cause to some people who suffer from allergies and severe reactions, we find some canned foods that contain warning labels that these foods contain peanuts, and thus they are avoided by these people.

But for consumers who can tolerate low amounts of peanut protein without complications or side effects, these labels are not important to them.

Using mathematical models, researchers and experts analyzed data of 481 patients with peanut allergy, from different regions and countries, to estimate the amount of peanut protein that causes an allergic reaction in these patients.

These patients consumed increased amounts of peanut protein as a dose inducing an allergic reaction or excitability in patients, in a controlled clinical environment by experts.

The amount of dose inducing an allergic reaction in 1 percent of patients was 0.052 mg of peanut protein.

The required dose for excitability in 5 percent of patients was 0.49 mg of peanut protein.

That is, the amount of peanut protein that can cause an allergy or severe allergic reaction in people is different from one person to another.

Source : Sputnik