Food allergies and intolerances commonly confused but not about equal conditions beyond some similarities, so then we show what the difference.
There are many different allergies and food intolerances that affect a small percentage of the population who must bear a special power to cope without side effects pathology.
For a good approach to these diseases it is also important to know in depth the same, therefore we show what differentiates an allergy to a food intolerance.
Differences between allergies and food intolerances
Both are considered adverse to the intake of a food reactions or composite food in particular, and also, both require special diets or exclusion to deal undamaged disease, however, there are some aspects that differentiate them as shown in the following table:
| Allergy | Intolerance |
| Immune response mediated by IgE | Inflammatory response not mediated by IgE |
| Immediate reaction | Progressive Reaction |
| Reacting to a minimum amount of allergen | Reaction according to the dose or quantity of food |
| Respiratory, skin, symptoms gastrointestinal and other | Gastrointestinal symptoms especially |
The main difference between allergy and intolerance is the origin of the adverse reaction , as in the first is the very system of defenses of the body which responds to a food while intolerance, the reaction is triggered by enzyme deficiencies that do not allow Correct assimilation of a nutrient and / or food.
Thus, allergies reaction is immediate to the intake of a lot or a minimal amount of food while in intolerance response is greater the higher the amount ingested food that causes reaction and symptoms appear as food intended to be digested Or metabolized.
For this reason, in intolerances digestive symptoms predominate, while in allergies in addition to gastrointestinal disorders may be cutaneous, respiratory and systemic symptoms.
These are the main differences between food allergies and intolerances : two pathologies with many similarities that we often confuse but it’s important to learn to distinguish.
