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Additive Effect of Food
Sensitivity
Updated: May 2003Article Summary
The symptoms of food sensitivity are caused by the
accumulation of chemicals in the body. The chemical must exceed a
threshold level to cause symptoms. Several foods in the diet may
increase the same body chemical. This additive effect will increase the
symptoms of food sensitivity. What is food sensitivity?
The body is made of many different chemicals. Each
chemical has a specific function in the body. Body chemicals perform
their functions most efficiently when they are at the correct level. If
the level of a chemical gets too high, it may cause unpleasant side
effects. Food sensitivity results when a food in the diet
causes an increase in the level of a body chemical. Food sensitivity can
be classified as food allergy or food intolerance.
Additive Effect of Food Allergies
As discussed in Food Allergy, the chemicals
released from the immune system during an allergic reaction cause the
symptoms of allergy. An allergen is a substance that triggers an
allergic reaction. The chemicals released during an allergic reaction
must exceed a particular level to cause symptoms. In other words, there
is a threshold level. An individual may have a threshold level to
histamine of 10 units. If the level of histamine in the blood is 8
units, no symptoms will be felt. If the level increases to 12 units,
symptoms will occur. An individual may react to more than one allergen.
For example, the individual’s immune system may react to milk, dust
mites and tree pollens. Some allergens will trigger the release of a
large amount of allergic chemical. In this case, symptoms will be
experienced every time the individual encounters the allergen because
the level of allergy chemical always exceeds the threshold. Other
allergens will release a smaller quantity of allergy chemical. If the
level of chemical does not exceed the threshold, the individual will not
experience symptoms. Similar chemicals are released during an allergic
reaction despite the particular allergen. Allergies to milk, dust mite
and tree pollen will cause an increase in similar chemicals. Histamine
will be released during any allergic reaction. If an individual
encounters several allergens, the allergy chemicals will be higher than
if the individual encounters one allergen. For example, many people
report food allergy during pollen season, but are able to eat the food
when the air is clear of pollen. The food allergy on its own does not
produce enough histamine to cause symptoms, but the food and pollen
allergy combined produces enough histamine to cause symptoms. Additive Effect of Food Intolerance
Food intolerance is usually caused by a decreased
enzyme level. Enzymes break the chemicals in food down. Each chemical
has a specific enzyme to break it down. If there are not enough enzymes
to break the chemicals down, the chemicals will accumulate in the body
and cause the symptoms of food sensitivity. Small amounts of the chemical that do not exceed
the level of enzyme, will not produce symptoms of food sensitivity. For
example, most people with a lactase enzyme deficiency can drink a small
amount of milk without symptoms. However, large amounts will cause
flatulence, bloating and diarrhea. Additive Effect Diagram
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