The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 450,000 Americans may be affected by alpha-gal. Alpha-gal syndrome is a serious, potentially life-threatening allergy and tickborne disease. Alpha-gal is a molecule that is naturally produced in the bodies of most mammals but not in humans. It is also found in the saliva of some ticks, particularly the lone star tick.
When a tick bites, it can transfer alpha-gal from its saliva into a person’s blood. The body’s natural defenses, or immune system, can identify alpha-gal as a threat and trigger an allergic reaction, especially to red meat and other mammalian food products like beef, pork, and dairy.
In response to a bite from such a tick, a person’s immune system may produce a specific antibody to recognize alpha-gal called IgE. Long after inflammation from the tick bite subsides, IgE still floats around, ready to alert the immune system to future alpha-gal intruders, especially from alpha-gal from food we eat, causing an allergic reaction.
“If you have had a recent tick bite, it can be important, especially if you know that it was a lone star tick, to really pay attention to symptoms,” said Sara Glanz, Clinical Nutrition Manager at Med Center Health. “Look for the common food allergy symptoms, which would be swelling or itching around your mouth, lips, or tongue. The alpha-gal allergy can also present with some GI symptoms, so if you’re having nausea, diarrhea, that sort of thing after eating beef, pork, or even dairy products like cow’s milk, cheese, yogurt or ice cream, then you may have alpha-gal. One unique thing about alpha-gal, compared to other food allergies, is sometimes those symptoms don’t present for several hours after you have consumed the food item, so it can be a little bit more challenging to pinpoint.”
As the lone star tick begins to become more prevalent across the U.S., cases of alpha-gal have increased. The CDC reported a 41% increase in alpha-gal diagnoses from 2017-2021, and Glanz reports seeing a similar increase in her patients.
“Here in Bowling Green, we’re seeing an increase in the number of patients who come into the hospital with alpha-gal,” said Glanz.
If you suspect you might have alpha-gal, Glanz recommends you see a physician and get an official diagnosis. Once a diagnosis is made, visiting a Med Center Health dietitian may help you adapt to new eating habits.
“From a nutrition standpoint, there are a lot of good nutrients that come from those foods that contain alpha-gal – protein, iron, vitamin B12, calcium and vitamin D – so we don’t want to eliminate those nutrients,” said Glanz. “A great first step is to make an appointment with a dietitian, and we have dietitians here on site with Med Center Health at our Health and Wellness Center who can help you tailor your diet a little bit to make sure you’re getting all the essential nutrients you need. Meeting with a dietitian can also help with burnout. We can give you some ideas as far as different foods you can try that would be safe and would give you a little bit more variety.”
To schedule an appointment with a Med Center Health dietitian, call 270-745-0942 or visit MedCenterHealth.org/Wellness.
-submitted by Med Center Health
