Garlic and onion allergy in 8109 allergy clinic patients
What it found
Among 8109 people tested at an allergy clinic, 27 had symptoms caused by garlic or onion, a prevalence of 2.92%.
The authors say this should not be underestimated.
What they found
Studies in people
Symptoms from food
Of the 8109 patients tested, 2508 (30.92%) had symptoms linked to eating food.
Food hypersensitivity found
In those patients, food hypersensitivity was detected by skin test, positive specific IgE or provocation in 924 people.
Garlic or onion cause
Garlic or onion caused the symptoms in 27 of them, giving a prevalence of 2.92%.
Specific LTP link
Immunodetection showed a link between symptoms and a specific LTP to these bulbs, with no cross-reactivity to other LTPs in the Mediterranean diet such as peach and wheat.
What the authors conclude
“Allergic hypersensitivity to garlic and onions should not be underestimated and, given their high consumption, should be included in the diagnostic food allergy battery.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say allergic hypersensitivity to garlic and onions should not be underestimated.
- They advise that, given their high consumption, garlic and onions should be included in the diagnostic food allergy battery.
How it was done
China and Spain are world leaders in eating garlic and onion, but there are few reports of these bulbs causing allergic symptoms. The authors wanted to study allergic sensitization and symptoms linked to eating them in a large group of allergy patients.
They tested garlic and onion extracts in 8109 patients of all ages seen at their allergy clinic in 2018, using skin prick tests and specific IgE blood tests. Oral provocation and contact tests were done if a delayed reaction was suspected, and Western Blot was run on serum from patients positive to garlic and onion.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This was a study of people seen at one allergy clinic, so the numbers may not reflect the general population.
- It can show a link between garlic or onion and symptoms, but it cannot prove that garlic or onion caused the symptoms in every case.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Valladolid University/Hospital Universitario Rio Hortega, Spain; DIATER laboratories, Spain; Valladolid University, Spain
The paper
- Title
- Allergic hypersensitivity to garlic and onion in children and adults
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Armentia A, Martín-Armentia S, Pineda F, et al (2020). Allergic hypersensitivity to garlic and onion in children and adults. Allergologia et immunopathologia. doi:10.1016/j.aller.2019.06.005PubMed 31477394DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error