AAAAI, Ask the Expert, Phil Lieberman, M.D., 3/22/13

"Elimination of corn maltodextrin in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis who have a positive skin test to corn"

"Corn is not one of the common “Big 6” allergens that are felt to worsen eosinophilic esophagitis . . ."

". . . the fact that your patient has a positive skin test to corn or to any other food would not automatically suggest removal of that food from their diet."
http://www.aaaai.org/ask-the-expert/elimination-of-corn-maltodextrin


In response to Dr. Lieberman's statement, I sent him the following documentation:

"Maize/Corn," Thermo Scientific, 2012
"Maize has been implicated as one of the causative foods of eosinophilic esophagitis, a disorder with symptoms suggestive of gastroesophageal reflux disease but unresponsive to conventional reflux therapies (58)."
http://www.phadia.com/en/Products/Allergy-testing-products/ImmunoCAP-Allergen-Information/Food-of-Plant-Origin/Grains/MaizeCorn/

Maltodextrin, Wikipedia
"Maltodextrin can be enzymatically derived from any starch. In the US, this starch is usually corn; in Europe, it is commonly wheat."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maltodextrin

My Personal Story:
From 2008-2011 I suffered daily reactions to nearly everything I consumed--it felt like I was being poisoned.  Since I did not realize that I had an allergy to corn (ubiquitous), I did not take an antihistamine to resolve my symptoms; and these reactions lasted for up to 7 hours every day.  When I was finally referred to an allergist, I only tested at 1+ for corn per skin-scratch testing; yet my reactions to corn/corn derivatives are severe; e.g., I experienced one of my worst reactions after consuming a small amount of iodized salt with corn-derived dextrose, and my reactions to corn-derived citric acid and corn-derived ascorbic acid are just as severe.

Therefore, no medical professional should ever encourage anyone to consume their allergen in any amount, unless they are in the presence of their physician.  Based on the personal testimonies I read on a daily basis--particularly from those who are anaphylactic to corn, anything derived from corn can cause an allergic/anaphylactic response.

STRICT AVOIDANCE OF ALLERGEN IS ADVISED:

Food Allergy & Anaphylaxsis Connection Team (FAACT)
"Although food allergy desensitizations are being studied, these are not yet proven treatments, so strict avoidance is the only way to prevent an allergic reaction."

"Trace amounts of an allergen can trigger an allergic reaction in some individuals."

https://www.foodallergyawareness.org/foodallergy/

"Patient education: Food allergy treatment and avoidance (Beyond the Basics)," Scott H. Sicherer, MD, FAAAAI, UpToDate, April 25, 2017

"People with food allergies can have serious or even life-threatening reactions after consuming certain foods. The most important strategy in the management of food allergies is to avoid eating these foods."

https://www.uptodate.com/contents/food-allergy-treatment-and-avoidance-beyond-the-basics

December 31, 2017, Notification to American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI):
Since the advice offered by Dr. Phil Lieberman can endanger the lives of corn-allergic patients, I sent a request to the AAAAI to remove this paper from their website.

Diane H., Corn Allergy Advocate

Corn Allergy Advocacy/Resources

https://cornallergyadvocacyresources.blogspot.com/

@CornAllergy911

“Adult Food Allergies on the Rise, Report Finds, but Cause Still Unclear,” by Shamard Charles, M.D., NBC News, September 27, 2017

“But these near-fatal food reactions are all too common — and on the rise, especially in adults who had never previously experienced allergic food reactions before. “

“We have noticed that the prevalence of food allergy has tripled in the last 20 to 30 years,” said Dr. Jonathan Hemler, pediatric allergy and immunology specialist at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.”

“. . . diagnoses of anaphylactic food reactions rose 377 percent from 2007 to 2016. And half of adults with food allergies developed them after the age of 18.”

“The most common category, however, was "other specific foods" — 33 percent — which typically means the food causing the anaphylactic reaction is unknown. This category rose 71 percent from 2007 to 2016.”

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/adult-food-allergies-rise-report-finds-cause-still-unclear-n805316


[I personally believe that the 33 percent of "other specific foods" may be linked to the sudden increase in corn allergies (corn is ubiquitous)--up by 580.5% in the last 51 months.  I acquired my allergy to corn in 2008, which was confirmed via skin-scratch testing in 2011--in addition to numerous other allergies (most antibiotics, soy, yeast, pork, mushrooms, dairy, salmon, pecans, scallops, etc.).  I was relatively allergy-free until 2008.  What happened to cause my sudden, adult-onset allergies?]

Diane H., Corn Allergy Advocate

Corn Allergy Advocacy/Resources

https://cornallergyadvocacyresources.blogspot.com/

@CornAllergy911