Researchers from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases have found that estrogen, a female hormone, may explain why women tend to experience life-threatening allergic reactions more than men.
Scientists reported that the female mice in their study repeatedly suffered from more severe and longer-lasting anaphylaxis than the male mice. They found that the estrogen in the female mice was boosting the activity of an enzyme lining the blood vessels that played a significant role in severe allergic reactions. When researchers blocked that enzyme, the male and female mice failed to show any differences in the severity or duration of their reactions.
However, more studies are necessary to find out if the same effects occur in humans.
"More women than men are admitted to hospitals for anaphylaxis, and that tells you something is going on here," Dean Metcalfe, one of the authors of the study, told The Washington Post.
Dr. Metcalfe pointed out that further studies could have significant effects in the way women with severe allergies are treated medically. For instance, birth control might have an effect, as well as the woman's age. Is she post-menopausal? Undergoing hormone-replacement therapy? Women might also be asked if they are taking the popular athletic performance enhancement supplement, L-arginine, because it increases production of the substance that allows fluid in the blood vessels to leak out during life-threatening allergic reactions.
The scientists are hopeful that further research will help make women's allergy treatment more sophisticated and effective.
If you have questions about allergy control products or what causes allergic reactions, contact Allergy Be Gone today and we can provide you with the information and support you're looking for.
