Oil Palm Pollen Sensitization Linked to Allergic Diseases in new study

A recent study found the significant association between Elaeis guineensis (Ela g, oil palm) pollen sensitization and allergic diseases in the tropical Southeast Asian region. The key findings of this study were published in the recent edition of World Allergy Organization Journal.

The study was conducted as part of the Singapore and Malaysia cross-sectional genetic and epidemiological study (SMCSGES) looked into the largely unexplored field of allergic diseases and their relation to oil palm pollen sensitization. This research involved two independent cohorts; the first cohort consisted of 564 participants from Singapore and Malaysia with serum samples collected and analyzed against a panel of 16 crude inhalant allergens. The results revealed a startling sensitization rate of 9.6% to oil palm pollen.

Further, in a larger cohort of 13,652 young adults from Singapore/Malaysia Chinese the skin prick tests were taken to assess oil palm sensitization. The findings revealed that individuals who were sensitized to oil palm pollen expressed significantly high risks of asthma, allergic rhinitis (AR) and atopic dermatitis (AD). The individuals with asthma and oil palm sensitization had elevated risk of experiencing wheezing, nocturnal cough and exacerbations in the past 12 months. Similarly, AR patients with oil palm sensitization underwent a higher likelihood of developing moderate-to-severe symptoms.

These findings highlight the critical role of oil palm pollen in exacerbating allergic diseases in the Southeast Asian region, Understanding these associations is crucial for devising targeted preventive and management strategies to reduce the burden of allergic diseases in our population.

Reference:

Sio, Y. Y., Victoria Nanong, G. A., Lim, J. A., Matta, S. A., Say, Y.-H., Teh, K. F., Wong, Y. R., Rawanan Shah, S. M., Reginald, K., & Chew, F. T. (2024). Sensitization to oil palm pollen associates with risks and severity of allergic diseases. In World Allergy Organization Journal (Vol. 17, Issue 1, p. 100853). Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.waojou.2023.100853