Search for wine allergy clues

Monday November 22nd, 2010

A protein in grapes may be responsible for headaches, stuffy noses, skin rashes and other allergy symptoms in wine drinkers.

Scientists writing in the American Chemistry Society’s monthly Journal of Proteome Research believe their discovery may pave the way for low allergenic vintages to be produced.

Dr Giuseppe Palmisano, of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, led a study after noting growing concern about ingredients in red and white wine that cause allergy-like symptoms among an estimated eight per cent of people worldwide.

One per cent of the allergies relate to sulphites, sulphur-containing substances that winemakers add to wine to prevent spoilage and also occur naturally.

But the components that trigger allergies in the remaining seven per cent remained unclear.

Studies had already suggested that glycoproteins — proteins coated with sugars produced naturally as grapes ferment — may be the cause, so Dr Palmisano and his colleagues analysed Italian chardonnay and uncovered 28 glycoproteins, some of which were identified for the first time.

They found that many of the grape glycoproteins had structures similar to known allergens, including proteins that trigger allergic reactions to ragweed and latex.

The discovery could lead to the development of wine-making processes that minimise formation of the offending glycoproteins, thereby easing symptoms of the affected wine drinkers, they say.

Journal of Proteome Research November 2010

Tags: Allergies & Asthma | Diet & Food | Drug and Alcohol Abuse | Europe

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