The Effectiveness of Oral Tolerance Induction for Wheat Allergy Using Two Different Intake Levels

Objective: Many reports exist on the effectiveness of oral tolerance induction for food allergies. However, few comprehensive reports exist on its effectiveness for wheat allergy. Subjects: Among subjects who had a positive result in an oral food challenge test for udon (wheat noodles), informed consent was obtained from 49 subjects who were judged to be capable of starting intake at 0.5–5 g dried noodle weight based on the final dose and induced symptoms. Method: Oral tolerance induction was performed after randomly dividing the subjects, with consideration of age, into the following two groups according to intake frequency: the frequent group, intake at six times/week or more; and the intermittent group, intake at two times/week. After six months of tolerance induction, the ability of these patients to ingest the noodles at the target dose was evaluated. Results: Of the 49 subjects, 32 were finally considered in this study, and each group had 16 subjects in whom intake could be totalled based on intake diaries, and who were able to maintain intake at five times/week or more (frequent group) or two times/week (intermittent group). After six months,the proportion of subjects who had a negative result on testing with the target dose (20 g dried noodle weight for subjects ≤3 years of age, and 50 g dried noodle weight for those ≥4 years of age) or who were capable of the target intake within six months was 73% on the whole, and no differerence  in both groups. Conclusion: The findings suggest that even when intake frequency in oral tolerance induction for wheat is reduced to twice/week, no clear difference is seen with the target dose after six months of tolerance induction.