OLIVE POLLEN ALLERGY
Key Allergens
There are 15 pollen allergens associated with olive pollen, they are all allergens associated with airways.
Ole e 1 is a glycoprotein, it has high cross-reactivity with the main allergens of other plants in the Oleaceae family. Ole e 1 is the marker allergen for diagnosing these linked allergens and they are often called "Ole e 1-like". Most patients with olive pollen allergy are linked to this allergen. Ole e 2 is a profilin protein, these are panallergens and can cause allergies across multiple species of plants and foods.
Ole e 7 is a Lipid Transfer Protein (LTP), which can cause serious allergic reactions across multiple plants.
Ole e 3 and 8 are polcalcin proteins, these are calcium binding protein commonly associated with pollen germination. These proteins are highly cross reactive and also considered to be panallergens.
Olive pollen is more common in warmer European climates. Pollen season is between April and June. This varies from country to country. It is considered to have medium to high allergenicity.
Sensitisation to olive pollen does not mean you should avoid eating olives or using olive oil, there is very little evidence that there is cross reactivity through food. You can read more about olive food allergy on the Olive Page.
Ole e 1 is a glycoprotein, it has high cross-reactivity with the main allergens of other plants in the Oleaceae family. Ole e 1 is the marker allergen for diagnosing these linked allergens and they are often called "Ole e 1-like". Most patients with olive pollen allergy are linked to this allergen. Ole e 2 is a profilin protein, these are panallergens and can cause allergies across multiple species of plants and foods.
Ole e 7 is a Lipid Transfer Protein (LTP), which can cause serious allergic reactions across multiple plants.
Ole e 3 and 8 are polcalcin proteins, these are calcium binding protein commonly associated with pollen germination. These proteins are highly cross reactive and also considered to be panallergens.
Olive pollen is more common in warmer European climates. Pollen season is between April and June. This varies from country to country. It is considered to have medium to high allergenicity.
Sensitisation to olive pollen does not mean you should avoid eating olives or using olive oil, there is very little evidence that there is cross reactivity through food. You can read more about olive food allergy on the Olive Page.
Associated Syndromes
An allergy to olive pollen is strongly associated with seasonal allergic rhinitis (hayfever).
An olive pollen allergy is also linked to asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and atopic dermatitis.
An olive pollen allergy is also linked to asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and atopic dermatitis.
Cross Reactivity
Other Ole e 1 pollens include pigweed, sugar beet, crocus, ash, privet, grasses, plantain, mesquite and lilac.
Other plant pollens which contain polcalcin proteins are ragweed, alder, birch, timothy grass, lilac and mugwort. There is also a polcalcin protein in turnips which is associated with this allergy presenting itself as a food allergy.
Other plants containing profilin inhalant allergens are ragweed, wormwood, birch, sunflower, mugwort, plantain, poplar and oak. Profilins are also found as food allergens in kiwi, celery, peanut, chilli, watermelon, orange, hazelnut, melon, carrot, strawberry, soya, walnut, lychee, lupin, apple, cherry, almond, peach, pear, mustard, tomato and aubergine.
Other plants containing inhalant LTP allergens are wormwood, mugwort and plane. Foods containing LTP include kiwi, strawberry, sunflower, walnut, apple, mulberry, pea, apricot, cabbage, peanut, chestnut, celery, lemon tangerine, orange, lettuce, lentil, lupin, mustard, cherry, plum, almond, peach, pomegranate, raspberry, tomato and grape.
Other plant pollens which contain polcalcin proteins are ragweed, alder, birch, timothy grass, lilac and mugwort. There is also a polcalcin protein in turnips which is associated with this allergy presenting itself as a food allergy.
Other plants containing profilin inhalant allergens are ragweed, wormwood, birch, sunflower, mugwort, plantain, poplar and oak. Profilins are also found as food allergens in kiwi, celery, peanut, chilli, watermelon, orange, hazelnut, melon, carrot, strawberry, soya, walnut, lychee, lupin, apple, cherry, almond, peach, pear, mustard, tomato and aubergine.
Other plants containing inhalant LTP allergens are wormwood, mugwort and plane. Foods containing LTP include kiwi, strawberry, sunflower, walnut, apple, mulberry, pea, apricot, cabbage, peanut, chestnut, celery, lemon tangerine, orange, lettuce, lentil, lupin, mustard, cherry, plum, almond, peach, pomegranate, raspberry, tomato and grape.
Resources
Websites
DermNet NZ - Pollen Food Allergy Syndrome
Allergy UK - Allergic rhinitis
Allergy UK - Managing your asthma and your allergic rhinitis throughout the seasons
Articles and Journals
Comprehensive Study on Key Pollen Allergens, 2022
Therapeutic potential of peptides from Ole e 1 in olive-pollen allergy, 2019
Profilin sensitization and its clinical relevance to a population of atopic adults in Greece, 2018
Symptoms of the olive pollen allergy: Do they really occur only in the pollination season? 2005
Panallergens and their impact on the allergic patient, 2010
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