Peach fruit and pollen allergy in a peach-growing village
What it found
In 716 adults living in a peach-growing area of Spain, most tolerated eating peach even when blood tests showed peach antibodies, but 22% were sensitised to peach tree pollen and many of those had respiratory symptoms.
What they found
Studies in people
Peach fruit sensitisation
About 5% of the 716 adults had a positive skin test to peach fruit. Most of these had antibodies to Pru p 3, very few to Pru p 4, and none to Pru p 1 or Pru p 7.
Tolerance to eating peach
Most people (95%) had no skin reaction to peach and no Pru p 3 antibodies, and tolerated peach well. Among 39 people with Pru p 3 antibodies, 22 tolerated peach and 17 had symptoms. Twelve of the tolerant ones had an oral peach challenge and all tolerated it.
Anaphylaxis and urticaria
Anaphylaxis occurred in 1.8% of participants, all involving peach. Urticaria occurred in 13 cases, with peach involved in 10.
Peach pollen sensitisation
22% of participants had a positive skin test to peach tree pollen, and 38% were sensitised to Pru p 9. Almost half of those sensitised to peach pollen recognised Pru p 9.
Respiratory symptoms
In 20 people sensitised to both peach pollen and Pru p 9, nasal challenge with peach pollen or Pru p 9 caused respiratory symptoms in 18 out of 20 for each. Rhinitis occurred in 62.6%, conjunctivitis in 52.9% and asthma in 21% of the whole group.
Age and gender patterns
Sensitisation to pollens decreased with age. Women were more likely to be sensitised to pollens (57.1% vs 49% of men) and more likely to have peach allergy.
What the authors conclude
“In a large population group exposed to peach fruit and peach tree pollen, most individuals were tolerant, even in those with SIgE to Pru p 3.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that in this highly exposed population, most people were tolerant to peach, even many of those with Pru p 3 antibodies.
- They say that early life exposure may induce oral tolerance but does not seem to prevent inhalant allergy.
- They note that Pru p 1, Pru p 4 and Pru p 7 seem to be of little relevance.
How it was done
The authors wanted to study how common peach fruit and peach pollen allergy are in a rural population heavily exposed to both, and to compare the two allergy routes.
They recruited 716 adults aged 21 to 83 in Blanca, Murcia, Spain, who were exposed to peach tree pollen and ate peach. Participants answered questions, had skin prick tests and blood tests for antibodies to peach proteins, and some had oral peach challenges or nasal pollen challenges.
What it can’t tell you
- This study was in one rural village in Spain, so the results may not apply to other populations with different diets and pollen exposure.
- The sample was not fully representative of the whole population because younger people and men were slightly underrepresented.
- The study cannot prove that eating peach early in life causes tolerance; it can only show a link.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- JLSGL is the founder and CEO of Inmunotek laboratories. He contributed to the design of the study and elaboration and final revision of the manuscript. EFC is an employee of Inmunotek laboratories and contributed to the design of the study, laboratory assays, writing and final revision of the manuscript. EAFG is an employee of Inmunotek laboratories and contributed to the laboratory assays, discussion and final reading of the manuscript. MMM is an employee of Inmunotek laboratories and contributed to the laboratory assays, discussion and final reading of the manuscript. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.
- Authors work at
- Infanta Leonor University Hospital, Spain; Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Spain; Morales Meseguer General University Hospital, Spain
The paper
- Title
- Subjects develop tolerance to Pru p 3 but respiratory allergy to Pru p 9: A large study group from a peach exposed population
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Licence
- CC BY. Words in quotation marks are the authors’; the rest is our summary.
- Cite
- Somoza ML, Pérez-Sánchez N, Victorio-Puche L, et al (2021). Subjects develop tolerance to Pru p 3 but respiratory allergy to Pru p 9: A large study group from a peach exposed population. PloS one. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0255305Free full textPubMed 34411133DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error