Wheat protein recognition patterns in allergic and tolerant children
What it found
Allergic and tolerant children showed the same pattern of immune response to wheat proteins.
The test was done using blood samples from children.
What they found
Studies in people
Same proteins triggered responses
Both allergic and tolerant children showed immune responses to the exact same wheat protein bands. This means the pattern alone did not separate the two groups.
Sensitisation rates
Sixty-three percent of tolerant children and 86% of allergic children showed sensitisation to wheat on a standard blood test.
Major allergens confirmed
The researchers confirmed that several gliadin types and glutenin subunits act as major allergens. They also found immune binding across many water and salt soluble proteins.
Specific protein levels similar
Levels of immune response to one specific protein, omega-5-gliadin, did not differ much between allergic and tolerant children.
What the authors conclude
- They found that children with proven wheat allergies and those who tolerate wheat show similar immune responses to the same proteins.
- The authors suggest that testing for individual wheat proteins might not help doctors diagnose wheat allergy.
How it was done
Wheat is a common childhood food allergen, but standard allergy tests often fail to match symptoms or detect reactions. The authors wanted to see if allergic and tolerant children react to different wheat proteins, which could improve testing.
They tested blood serum from 106 children suspected of having a wheat allergy. Of these, 44 had a confirmed allergy and 62 were tolerant after a feeding test. They checked for immune responses to various wheat protein groups, and tested 40 samples for one specific protein.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This study looked at blood samples rather than what happens when children eat wheat. It cannot show whether these immune responses cause symptoms during meals.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Charité Universitätsmedizin, Germany; Free University, Germany; University of Potsdam, Germany
The paper
- Title
- Wheat protein recognition pattern in tolerant and allergic children
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Sievers S, Rawel HM, Ringel KP, Niggemann B, Beyer K (2016). Wheat protein recognition pattern in tolerant and allergic children. Pediatric allergy and immunology. doi:10.1111/pai.12502PubMed 26498269DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error