Soy Lecithin Allergy


Lecithin is the fatty substance, which is basically a mixture of phospholipids, glycolipids, glycerol, fatty acids, choline and phosphoric acid. Lecithin is usually yellowish or brown in color, and can be found in both animal and plant tissues. Soy lecithin is a derivative or by-product of soybean processing. Lecithin has nowadays found a wide range of applications for its health benefits and emulsifying properties. It is a common ingredient in processed foods, besides being included in animal feed, paint and many pharmaceutical products. However, some people are found to be allergic to soy lecithin, in which case ingestion of any soy product can lead to severe allergic reactions. In fact, allergy to soy protein is one of the most common food allergies in the world.

Allergic Reactions to Soy Lecithin

It is the condition, where the immune system becomes hypersensitive to lecithin obtained from soy beans. The immune system identifies lecithin as a harmful foreign particle. So, it releases a large amount of antibodies in the body, which in turn, causes allergic reactions. Some people can experience a mild allergic reaction to soy lecithin, while others can encounter the life-threatening condition, known as anaphylaxis. Such a condition requires immediate medical attention. A large number of individuals are found to be hypersensitive to soy protein and soy lecithin, out of which the great majority are young children and infants.

Symptoms
It can sometimes produce a few mild symptoms like, sneezing, runny nose, minor skin rash and hives. But, certain individuals can experience serious allergic reactions to soy lecithin, which can manifest in itching, severe skin rash and urticaria, coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing and unusual swelling, especially of the face, tongue and throat. Eventually, the condition can lead to dizziness, fainting and 'anaphylaxis', which can be termed as a systemic allergic reaction. Anaphylaxis, if not treated immediately can lead to anaphylactic shock.

Prevention
The best preventive measure is to avoid soy and soy based products. Some of the common soy products are soy flour, soy milk, soy albumin, soy beans, soy nuts, tofu, miso, natto, soy sauce, tamari, edamame, teriyaki, shoyu and tempeh. Soy is nowadays included in great many food products, especially the processed ones. For this, one should always read the label of the products to find out the ingredients, before making purchases. Read the label of a product, even if you have already tried it and have experienced no reaction. This is because, many times, the manufacturer can change certain ingredients and include soy lecithin in it. At the same time, be sure to check the ingredients of the particular dish, while dining outside. This is especially applicable if you go to a Chinese or Japanese restaurant.

As this allergy is observed to be more common in children, they should be taught not to accept any food offered by their friends or peers. To sum up, every possible measure need to be taken to avoid soy products, and processed foods that include soy, in order to avoid its allergic reaction. The symptoms of allergic reaction can be managed with antihistamines, but a severe case would require the immediate administration of epinephrine. Therefore, on observing the symptoms, one should immediately seek the help of his or her physician.

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