Ulcer Medication May Cause Dangerous Nut Allergies

Prescription medication for treating ulcers decreases the release of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. There are proteins in hazelnuts that are digested by hydrochloric acid, if for some reason these proteins aren't broken down they can cause sensitization to this tree nut. If the prescription medication decreases the release of hydrochloric acid, it is thought that allergy to this (and other foods in a similar manor) may occur.

Mice were fed hazelnuts either with or without ulcer treating medication. The mice fed hazelnuts with the medication developed allergies to the hazelnuts.

In 153 patients treated with antiulcer medication, 5 developed an allergy to hazelnuts. Allergies to hazelnuts and other tree nuts can be very dangerous, sometimes involving anaphylactic reactions where the lungs and breathing are affected. T study is published in the January 2005 issue of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Mothers Thyroid Activity May Be a Factor in Childs ADHD

The thyroid gland releases hormones that regulate body growth and metabolism. Iodine is required to create the various thyroid hormones. When the level of iodine in the thyroid gland is too low it is called hypothyroxinemia.

Based on a near 10 year long study, researchers in Italy believe that hypothyroxinemia in mothers during pregnancy may cause ADHD in their offspring. The researchers followed the children of 16 women in an area of Sicily that is low in iodine, they compared them to children of 11 mothers from an area where iodine is sufficient. ADHD was diagnosed in 11 of the 16 children from the low iodine area and in none of the children from the iodine sufficient area. The study is published in the December 2004 issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.