Search resultsAssociation of alcohol consumption with total serum immunoglobulin E levels and allergic sensitization in an adult population-based survey
Title
Association of alcohol consumption with total serum immunoglobulin E levels and allergic sensitization in an adult population-based survey
Publication type
Journal Article
Year of Publication
2003
Authors
Journal
Clinical and Experimental Allergy
Volume
33
Issue
2
Pagination
199 - 205
Date published
2003
ISBN
09547894 (ISSN)
Keywords
Adolescent, Adult, age distribution, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, alcohol, alcohol consumption, Alcohol Drinking, Alcoholic Beverages, Alcoholism, Allergens, Allergic sensitization, Allergy, Animals, article, Atopy, cigarette smoking, Cross-Sectional Studies, Ethanol, Female, health survey, human, Humans, hypersensitivity, Ige, immunoglobulin blood level, immunoglobulin E, major clinical study, male, Middle Aged, Mites, Pollen, prick test, priority journal, Regression Analysis, Risk Factors, sensitization, skin test, Skin Tests, smoking
Abstract
Background. Chronic alcoholism is associated with increased total serum IgE levels. Objective. The study aimed to investigate the relationship between alcohol intake and both total serum IgE levels and allergic sensitization in a general adult population. Materials. and methods A total of 720 subjects was randomly selected (stratified by age) from the population older than 18 years of A-Estrada (Spain) and invited to participate in the study. From 697 eligible subjects, 469 (67%, median age 54 years, range 18 to 92 years, 44% males, 75% of cases from a rural environment) agreed to participate. A battery of 13 skin prick tests to common aeroallergens was performed in all subjects. Cases with at least one positive test (n = 121, 26%) were considered to have allergic sensitization. The most frequent sensitisers were mites and pollens (24% and 10% of subjects, respectively). Total serum IgE was measured in 465 subjects (99%). Alcohol consumption was registered as the number of standard (approximately 10 g) drinking units habitually consumed per week. A total of 244 subjects (52%) were alcohol consumers (median intake, 14 units/week, range 1 to 147 units/week). Abstainers (n = 225, 48%) constituted the reference category. Results. Alcohol consumption of more than 14 units/week was associated with an increase in serum IgE levels after adjusting for age, gender, allergic sensitization and smoking (P = 0.02). Alcohol consumption was not significantly associated with either overall allergic sensitization or mite sensitization after adjusting for age, gender and smoking. However, alcohol consumption of more than 14 units/week was associated with an increased prevalence of pollen sensitization (adjusted OR 3.15,95% CI 1.19 to 8.34, P=0.02). Conclusion. Alcohol consumption above a certain threshold is associated with an increase in total serum IgE levels. Alcohol consumption may also be associated with an increased prevalence of pollen sensitization.