Tick bites and red meat allergy... just found this interesting!

[jcc]

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Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2013 Jun 5. [Epub ahead of print]
Tick bites and red meat allergy.
Commins SP, Platts-Mills TA.
Source

Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Allergy and Immunology bDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW:

A novel form of anaphylaxis has been described that is due to IgE antibody (Ab) directed against a mammalian oligosaccharide epitope, galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal). Ongoing work regarding the cause and distribution of this IgE response is reviewed.
RECENT FINDINGS:

Our recent work has identified a novel IgE Ab response that has been associated with two distinct forms of anaphylaxis: immediate-onset anaphylaxis during first exposure to intravenous cetuximab and delayed-onset anaphylaxis 3-6 h after ingestion of mammalian food products (e.g. beef and pork). Further studies strongly suggested that tick bites were a cause, if not the only significant cause, of IgE Ab responses to alpha-gal in the United States and internationally.
SUMMARY:

Large numbers of patients with IgE Ab to alpha-gal continue to be identified in the USA and globally. Clinicians should be aware of this IgE response as the reactions often appear to be idiopathic because of the significant delay between eating mammalian meat and the appearance of symptoms.

PMID:
23743512
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

[annelb]

I may be positive for Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever but at least I can still eat red meat!!
Anne

[bear]

I may be positive for Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever but at least I can still eat red meat!!
Anne

Anne from the ticks point of view you were the red meat!!

Cara, in the spirit of interesting connections I wonder if there is any connection with the immune system, tick borne infections, gluten intolerance and the following bacteria:

Apr. 7, 2013 — A compound abundant in red meat and added as a supplement to popular energy drinks has been found to promote atherosclerosis -- or the hardening or clogging of the arteries -- according to Cleveland Clinic research published online this week in the journal Nature Medicine.

The study shows that bacteria living in the human digestive tract metabolize the compound carnitine, turning it into trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), a metabolite the researchers previously linked in a 2011 study to the promotion of atherosclerosis in humans. Further, the research finds that a diet high in carnitine promotes the growth of the bacteria that metabolize carnitine, compounding the problem by producing even more of the artery-clogging TMAO.
...

"The bacteria living in our digestive tracts are dictated by our long-term dietary patterns," Hazen said. "A diet high in carnitine actually shifts our gut microbe composition to those that like carnitine, making meat eaters even more susceptible to forming TMAO and its artery-clogging effects. Meanwhile, vegans and vegetarians have a significantly reduced capacity to synthesize TMAO from carnitine, which may explain the cardiovascular health benefits of these diets."

Prior research has shown that a diet with frequent red meat consumption is associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk, but that the cholesterol and saturated fat content in red meat does not appear to be enough to explain the increased cardiovascular risks. This discrepancy has been attributed to genetic differences, a high salt diet that is often associated with red meat consumption, and even possibly the cooking process, among other explanations. But Hazen says this new research suggests a new connection between red meat and cardiovascular disease.

"This process is different in everyone, depending on the gut microbe metabolism of the individual," he says. "Carnitine metabolism suggests a new way to help explain why a diet rich in red meat promotes atherosclerosis."
...

The interactions between the microbiome, the gut, the diet, the immune system and the rest of the body just gets more interesting every day. I wonder if the bugs in the gut above are antibiotic resistant.

[nick's mom]

man, i have to avoid ticks! i live on red meat!!

[NancyM]

I think I posted this a few months back on our other forum.

It's that awful? Yikes! I have to confess I do prefer poultry though.

[Marciab]

Anne from the ticks point of view you were the red meat!!

Cara, in the spirit of interesting connections I wonder if there is any connection with the immune system, tick borne infections, gluten intolerance and the following bacteria:



The interactions between the microbiome, the gut, the diet, the immune system and the rest of the body just gets more interesting every day. I wonder if the bugs in the gut above are antibiotic resistant.

: ) ... good one bear.

That's a good point about the bugs in the gut being antiobiotic resistant too.

I stopped being able to digest any red meat at all last year. My problem started 10 years ago tho with ground beef. All raw veggies are out now too. I just happen to have had h pylori and some parasites last year too tho. I'm re-treating now with Mebendazole and Metronidazole to see if it helps my digestion. So far, I haven't seen anything of interest show up ...

[annelb]

As far as gluten and tick diseases, there seems to be a connection. The docs treating chronic Lyme suggest a gluten free diet that is also low in sugar and starches. My doctor says he has found that many of his gluten sensitive patients have also tested positive for Lyme Disease. That is why he tested me.

Also interesting is that h. pylori, although it can cause ulcers and cancer, it may not be totally bad. Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...
Anne

[Marciab]

Interesting article. Thanks anne. My infection was severe and I had parasites so treatment wasn't optional.

My Metametrix test said that my good bacteria was low so they may have a point there. I don't know what type of h pylori I had tho.

I remained at the same weight post treatment when I was on the Paleo diet. I don't think I felt hungrier but Paleos can eat as many veggies as they want so that would've been hard to notice. Now that I'm eating gf grains, I'm putting weight on real easy.

I hope they don't discount the importance of treating people with serious cases of H pylori based on research like this. I was VERY sick when I had this.