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Most gastrointestinal problems connected to soy formula Soy-induced enterocolitis, for example, will resolve after six involve non-IgE delayed immune reactions.» However, local IgE months to two years of strictly avoiding soy.'* As families of reactions may contribute to these problems by triggering the for- allergic youngsters know, keeping soy off the dinner table and out mation of immune complexes that alter the permeability of the gut of the meals and snacks provided at daycare centres and schools mucosa. As C. Carini, the lead author in an Annals of Allergy can be challenging. Even in non-vegetarian families, soy is ubiq- study published in 1987, wrote, "The resultant delayed onset uitous in the processed food supply. As a result, sensitisation to symptoms could be viewed as a form of serum sickness with few soy has increased, is not necessarily outgrown, and can either re- or many target organs affected". emerge or develop later in life. The baby's small intestine is at special risk. Scanning electron microscopy and biopsies have revealed severe damage to the FRANKENSOY'S MONSTER small intestine, including flattening and wasting away of the pro- Soy allergies may also be on the rise because of genetically jections (known as villi) and cellular overgrowth of the pits modified (GM) soybeans. The York Nutritional Laboratories in (known as crypts). Allergic reaction may not be the sole cause the UK, one of Europe's leading laboratories specialising in food here, as the observed destruction dovetails with that caused by soy sensitivity, found a 50 per cent increase in soy allergies in 1998, antinutrients known as lectins and saponins, with the lectins possi- the very year in which genetically engineered beans were intro- bly doing double duty as allergic proteins (see chapters 14 and duced to the world market. York's researchers noted that one of 15). Villi are the projections clustered over the entire mucous sur- the 16 proteins in soybeans most likely to cause allergic reactions face of the small intestine where nutrient absorption takes place. was found in concentrations higher by 30 per cent or more in Flattening and atrophy of the villi lead to malnutrition and failure Monsanto's GM soybeans. The York researchers sent their find- to thrive, with a clinical picture very ings to British Health Secretary Frank similar to that found in children and Dobson, urging the government to act adults afflicted with coeliac dis- on the information and impose an ease.” instant ban on GM food, pending fur- Coeliac disease is a serious malab- ther safety tests being conducted. Dr sorption syndrome most commonly . Michael Antonion, a molecular associated with gluten (a protein frac- Soy allergies may also be on pathologist at Guy's Hospital in cen- tion found in wheat and some other the rise because of genetically tral London, observed: "This is a very grains) and dairy intolerance. Few interesting if slightly worrying devel- people know that there is also a con- modified (GM) soybeans. opment. It points to the fact that far nection with soy. Some adults with more work is needed to assess their coeliac disease experience diarrhoea, safety. At the moment, no allergy headache, nausea and flatulence even tests are carried out before GM foods on a gluten-free diet when they eat a are marketed and that also needs to be tiny amount of soy. And a study of 98 looked at.""%'” infants and children with multiple gas- People allergic to GM soybeans trointestinal allergies revealed that 62 per cent had both soy and may not even be allergic to soy. The culprit can be foreign milk allergies and 35 per cent both soy and gluten.” proteins introduced into the soybean. People allergic to Brazil nuts but not to soy have shown allergies to GM soybeans in which OUTGROWING SOY ALLERGIES Brazil nut proteins were inserted to increase the level of Allergy specialists say that "most" young children "outgrow" methionine and improve the overall amino acid profile of soy.'* their sensitivities." This makes sense—to a point. If infants Scientists say that such problems can be prevented by doing develop soy allergies because of immature digestive tracts and IgE-binding studies, by accounting for physicochemical immune systems, the risk of developing a soy allergy would characteristics of proteins and referring to known allergen decrease with age and many children would outgrow their soy databases. That might have identified the Brazil nut problem, but allergies. Yet other studies—even by the same authors—reveal there is no way to assess the risk of de novo sensitisation, which 109 co that only a minority of subje oh a s outgrows them. happens when experiments generate new allergens. Ona ur , af af ahi Soy-induced enterocolitis, for example, will resolve after six months to two years of strictly avoiding soy.'* As families of allergic youngsters know, keeping soy off the dinner table and out of the meals and snacks provided at daycare centres and schools can be challenging. Even in non-vegetarian familie: uitous in the processed food supply. As a result, sens soy has increased, is not necessarily outgrown, and can either re- emerge or develop later in life. Soy allergies may also be on the rise because of genetically modified (GM) soybeans. OUTGROWING SOY ALLERGIES Allergy specialists say that "most" young children "outgrow" their sensitivities." This makes sense—to a point. If infants develop soy allergies because of immature digestive tracts and immune systems, the risk of developing a soy allergy would decrease with age and many children would outgrow their soy allergies. Yet other studies—even by the same authors—reveal that only a minority of subjects outgrows them. One study showed that only 26 per cent of children suffering from soy, egg, milk, wheat and peanut allergies lost their hyper- sensitivity after one year. While peanut—soy's even more aller- genic relative—may have skewed those results, another study found that only two out of eight infants outgrew soy allergies after 25 months." And many children who "successfully" outgrow food allergies develop respiratory allergies. A study of 322 children showed that only six per cent still experienced food sensitivity after five years, but 40 per cent of those children "grew into" respiratory allergies. This was true for milk, egg, chocolate, soy and cereals, in that order.“ Yet this study is often cited as proof that most children "successfully" outgrow their allergies. Children are more likely to outgrow allergies to cow's milk or soy than allergies to peanuts, fish or shrimp, but will continue to react to them if they eat these foods often enough. And treatment of these allergies requires total exclusion of the offending food. hose who are allergic to soy must exclude all soy from their diets. This can be a challenge. Soy lurks in nearly everything these days, even in products where we would not reasonably expect it. In the USA, it's in Bumblebee canned tuna, Chef Boyardee Ravioli, Hershey's chocolate, many of the Baskin Robbins 31 flavours, McDonalds and other fast-food burgers, some Pizza Hut pizzas, many luncheon meats, most breads, muffins, doughnuts, lemonade mixes, hot chocolate, some baby foods, and tens of thousands of other popular products. If you absolutely must keep soy out of your life or that of your children, memorise the following: 30 * NEXUS READER'S SURVIVAL GUIDE: KICKING SOY OUT OF YOUR LIFE Continued on page 79 www.nexusmagazine.com AUGUST — SEPTEMBER 2004