What are Allergies?
An allergy is a disorder in which the body becomes hypersensitive to a particular allergen, which provokes characteristic symptoms whenever the body is then subsequently exposed.
Normally antibodies in the bloodstream and tissues react with, and destroy, specific antigens without further trouble. In an allergic person, the reaction of the allergen with the antibodies leads to side-effects and a series of reactions within the cells.
Different allergies afflict different tissues in the body and maybe localised, such as hayfever or asthma, or general such as sever dermatitis or extreme serious shock. in their effects.
Common allergies include pollen, specific foods, dust, perfume and animal fur.
Research
van der Valk et al (2013) examined the associations between MTHFR genes, nutritional status and the presence of asthma and eczema in children at birth. Children with high folate levels and also carrying the C677T mutation were found to have an increased risk of eczema, with no association between MTHFR and asthma found.
