Food hypersensitivity in Portuguese adults.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the frequency and epidemiological features of self-reported food hypersensitivity in Portuguese adults.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional.

SETTING

Participants were selected by random digit dialing among residents of Porto.

SUBJECTS

In total, 659 individuals over 39 y were asked to recall the occurrence of food hypersensitivity, and to describe the most serious episode. The adoption of eviction diets and previous medical diagnosis of food allergy were recorded, and recent dietary intake was evaluated using a validated food frequency questionnaire.

RESULTS

Self-reported food allergy was more frequent in women than men (7.3 vs 1.9%, P<0.01) and decreased with age. Age- and sex-standardized (European population > or =40 y) prevalence of food hypersensitivity was 4.8% (95% CI 3.4-6.9%). Most subjects (67.6%) referred allergy to a single food, fresh fruits being the more frequently incriminated (25%). Approximately 90% that reported food allergy declared the adoption of eviction diets, although 53% in fact ingested the incriminated foods during the previous year.

CONCLUSIONS

The adult prevalence of food hypersensitivity in Porto is one of the lowest observed worldwide, probably reflecting specificities of the genetic make-up and dietary patterns of our population.