ALLERGY RESOURCES

COMPREHENSIVE ALLERGY RESOURCES FOR EVERYONE - THE TOP 14 ALLERGENS AND BEYOND

COMPREHENSIVE ALLERGY RESOURCES FOR EVERYONE - THE TOP 14 ALLERGENS AND BEYOND
Allergy Resources Kofi Shop Advert

PUMPKIN ALLERGY


Key Allergens

Pumpkins are a vegetable in the Cucurbitaceae family of plants. Other plants in this family include courgettes (zucchini), cucumbers, melons, watermelons and marrow.

There are 2 allergenic proteins found in pumpkins, Cuc ma 4 and Cuc ma 5. The first is an 11S seed storage protein and the second is a 2S seed storage protein.

Food Intolerances

Food is high in FODMAP Food is low in salicylates Food is medium in lectins

Pumpkins are high in histamine, so should be avoided if you are on a low histamine diet.

Pumpkin seeds contain a moderate amount of lectins, another cause of food intolerance. Cooking foods with lectins makes them more digestible and can reduce the symptoms of food intolerance.

Pumpkins are low in salicylates. Salicylates have the potential to cause worsening of asthma, swelling, itching and hives as well as food intolerance symptoms in people who are sensitive to salicylates.

You can read more about Food Intolerances on the dedicated Food Intolerance Page.

Associated Syndromes

Pumpkins are not currently associated with any allergic syndromes, but are sometimes linked to carotenoderma, which is a skin condition causing orange skin pigmentation. This is due to overeating foods high in beta carotene like pumpkins, carrots, sweet potato and mango.

Cross Reactivity

Other food containing 2S albumin seed storage proteins are cashews, peanuts, mustard seed, rapeseed, turnip, chickpeas, hazelnuts, pistachio, buckwheat, soya beans, sunflower seeds, brazil nuts, walnuts, kiwi, castor beans and sesame seeds.

There is a lot of cross reactivity between 2S and 11S seed storage proteins, foods containing 11S seed storage proteins are almonds and macadamia nuts.

These food lists are not exhaustive, the most up to date information is on the Cross Reactivity Tool.




Resources

Websites

Science Direct - Pumpkins

Allergen Encyclopedia - Pumpkin

DermNet NZ - Carotenoderma

Allergy information for: Pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima)

Anaphylaxis Campaign - Allergy to Vegetables

Histamine Food List

ATP Science - Salicylate Food List


Articles and Journals

Oral immunotherapy with sunflower seed butter and a review of seed allergy, 2024

Characteristics of tree nut, peanut, and seed consumption in the eastern Mediterranean region, 2023

The rising status of edible seeds in lifestyle related diseases: A review, 2022

Anaphylaxis after consumption of pumpkin seeds in a 2-y-old child tolerant to its pulp: A case study, 2021

2S albumins and 11S globulins, two storage proteins involved in pumpkin seeds allergy, 2020

Anaphylaxis Secondary to Ingestion of Pumpkin Seeds in a Child: A Case Report, 2019

Allergy to Pumpkin Seeds, 2017

Hypersensitivities to sesame and other common edible seeds, 2016

2S Albumin Storage Proteins: What Makes them Food Allergens?, 2008

Allergy to pumpkin and cross-reactivity to other Cucurbitaceae fruits, 2000

Food allergy to pumpkinseed--characterization of allergens, 1997



Let me know if you found any of these interesting or useful. If you spot an article or research that you think is interesting you can message me or tag me on Facebook or Twitter - links at the bottom of the page.


Original Website Design by Jemma Dalton - © Allergy Resources. All rights reserved.

Sitemap
Privacy Policy

Follow Us