SESAME ALLERGY
Key Allergens
There are seven allergens associated with sesame allergy.
2 are 2S seed storage proteins, 1 is a 7S seed storage protein and 2 are 11S seed storage proteins. Seed storage proteins are generally linked to tree nut, peanut and seed allergies.
The last two allergens are oleosin proteins, which are found in parts of plants with a high oil content.
Many allergenic proteins are broken down with heat and processing, this is not the case with seed storage proteins or oleosins, so sesame oil which is made from ground and processed sesame seeds still has the potential to cause allergic reactions.
Sesame seeds and peanuts contain many of the same allergenic proteins, so cross reactivity is a possibility.
Food Intolerances
Sesame is a low FODMAP food. FODMAP stands for Fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols. Foods high in FODMAPs can cause symptoms of food intolerance, affecting the gastro intestinal system and this can be mistaken for a true IgE food allergy.
Sesame seeds are low in salicylates, these have the potential to cause gastrointestinal food intolerance symptoms in people who are sensitive to salicylates.
Although it is a seed and these are usually considered to contain lectins, sesame is actually low in them. Lectins are another cause of food intolerance.
Associated Syndromes
Cross Reactivity
There is a lot of cross reactivity between 2S and 11S seed storage proteins, the only other food containing 11S proteins not mentioned above is pumpkin.
Other foods containing vicilin-like (7S seed storage) proteins not mentioned in the list above are lupin, lentils, macadamia nuts, peas and mung bean.
Oleosin proteins are also found in peanuts, quinoa, palm oil, buckwheat and hazelnuts and are already mentioned as cross reacting with other proteins found in sesame.
Resources
Websites
Allergen Encyclopedia - Sesame Seeds
Anaphylaxis Campaign - Sesame Allergy
Allergy information for: Sesame (Sesamum indicum)
ATP Science - Salicylate Food List
Articles and Journals
Clinical experience with sesame oral immunotherapy and a quality-of-life assessment, 2022
Recurrent acute pancreatitis secondary to sesame allergy, 2021
Prevalence and Diagnosis of Sesame Allergy in Children with IgE-Mediated Food Allergy, 2020
Prevalence and Severity of Sesame Allergy in the United States, 2019
Sesame allergy: current perspectives, 2017
Hypersensitivities to sesame and other common edible seeds, 2016
Identification of 2 new sesame seed allergens: Ses i 6 and Ses i 7, 2007
Identification of oleosins as major allergens in sesame seed allergic patients, 2006
The major allergen of sesame seeds (Sesamum indicum) is a 2S albumin, 2001