Food Allergy Desensitization Programs

Okay, its controversial, but I'm keeping a close eye on this. Dr. Richard Wasserman, a pediatric allergist in Dallas TX, has been using desensitization to treat food allergy in his private practice. Some patients have had great success, others, not so much. Food desensitization is handled in much the same way as traditional allergy therapy. Someone allergic to cat, dust, mold or oak trees is given increasing amounts of their allergen in the form of an allergy shot. Over time, most people can better tolerate the allergen. In Wasserman's practice, someone allergic to milk or eggs can be given tiny doses of the offending food in increasing amounts.

Dr. Wasserman admits that many allergists find his food allergy treatment too risky. There are a few other practices throughout the U.S. who perform oral desensitization for food allergy. However, most desensitization studies are currently in clinical trials.

Wasserman reports that the program takes place over many months and costs about $5000. A few insurance companies cover the cost.

Does anyone have direct experience with this treatment for food allergy?  I'd love to talk to some food allergy families who've contemplated, or gone through, a program like this.

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Getting Enough Vitamin D

A recent study out of Harvard reveals that one in five children between the ages of one and eleven, are not getting enough Vitamin D. We need vitamin D to help maintain calcium levels to keep our bones strong. It also turns out that this vitamin might help prevent serious diseases, including infections, osteoporosis, diabetes and even some cancers.

It's important.

For people with food allergies, getting enough vitamin D may be challenging. In the U.S., milk is fortified with Vitamin D. For the dairy allergic, getting vitamin D by drinking milk is not an option. Turns out, milk alone (even 8 glasses a day!) is not an adequate source. A glass of milk typically contains 50-100 IU. We may need between 1,000 to 2,000 IU per day of vitamin D. Research is ongoing to pinpoint the daily requirement of Vitamin D.

Good natural sources of Vitamin D can be found in fatty fish such as salmon, tuna and sardines. Sunlight is a source of the vitamin as well. Of course excessive sun exposure can cause other problems, so be sensible.

If you're concerned about Vitamin D, talk to your doctor and see if a supplement might be beneficial.

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