Key takeaways:
~Many people experience watery eyes, runny noses, and itching as the smell of freshly cut grass fills the air.
~ Genetic variants play a role in whether or not you are likely to have grass allergies or hay fever.
Grass Allergies and Genetics:
Allergies are often due to a mix of genetic susceptibility and exposure to certain triggering molecules. Several different gene variants have ties to an increased risk of grass pollen allergies.
Allergies occur when the immune system overreacts to an allergen, such as seasonal pollen. This hypersensitive immune reaction causes the release of proinflammatory cytokines. T cells are activated, producing IgE, which activates mast cells. Mast cells then degranulate, releasing histamine and other inflammatory molecules. Histamine causes a runny nose, watery eyes, and itchiness associated with allergies.[ref]
A study found an upregulation of MC1R in the noses of people with grass pollen allergies.[ref] If that gene sounds familiar, it is the same gene that codes for the melanin receptor, in which variants cause red hair.
Speaking of smelling the grass… Did you know that some people can’t smell the odor of freshly-cut grass? A genetic variant (not covered by 23andMe data) prevents some people from experiencing that wonderful summertime smell.
Grass Allergy Genotype Report
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Lifehacks:
Vitamin D:
A study on children with seasonal pollen allergies compared the effects of 1,000 IU of Vitamin D daily vs. placebo.[ref] The study found that the vitamin D group had reduced allergy symptoms compared to the placebo group. Another study looked at vitamin D combined with Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (probiotic) on children’s allergies and found the combo effective.[ref]
Neti Pot:
Preemptive measures:
If you normally take antihistamines for pollen allergies, this study suggests that taking the antihistamines for three days before the exposure prevented the histamine 1 (H1) receptors from increasing expression in the nose. In an allergic response, your body releases histamine as a signaling molecule, and then the receptors for histamine cause the reaction to occur. H1 receptors are involved in your typical seasonal allergy reaction with a runny nose and itchy, watery eyes. So the study showed that without the increase in histamine receptors, there were few allergy-type symptoms. The antihistamine prevented the body from upregulating the H1 receptors.[ref]
Low Histamine Diet: Reducing the amount of high histamine foods you consume during allergy season may help with decreasing your allergy symptoms. (More on this in the member’s section below)
Related article: Histamine Intolerance genes
Supplements for Hay Fever:
Related Articles and Topics:
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Psoriasis Genes
Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that causes dry, sometimes itchy patches of skin. It is caused by the immune system attacking your skin cells, speeding up the turnover of the cells.
Genetics and Food Allergies
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Spike Protein, Mast Cells, Histamine, and Heart Rhythms
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References:
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Di Berardino, Federica, et al. “Nasal Rinsing with an Atomized Spray Improves Mucociliary Clearance and Clinical Symptoms during Peak Grass Pollen Season.” American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy, vol. 31, no. 1, Jan. 2017, pp. 40–43. PubMed, https://doi.org/10.2500/ajra.2016.30.4383.
Galli, Stephen J., et al. “The Development of Allergic Inflammation.” Nature, vol. 454, no. 7203, July 2008, pp. 445–54. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.1038/nature07204.
Jafarinia, Morteza, et al. “Quercetin with the Potential Effect on Allergic Diseases.” Allergy, Asthma, and Clinical Immunology : Official Journal of the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, vol. 16, May 2020, p. 36. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.1186/s13223-020-00434-0.
Jerzyńska, Joanna, et al. “Clinical and Immunological Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation during the Pollen Season in Children with Allergic Rhinitis.” Archives of Medical Science: AMS, vol. 14, no. 1, Jan. 2018, pp. 122–31. PubMed, https://doi.org/10.5114/aoms.2016.61978.
Jerzynska, Joanna, et al. “Effect of Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG and Vitamin D Supplementation on the Immunologic Effectiveness of Grass-Specific Sublingual Immunotherapy in Children with Allergy.” Allergy and Asthma Proceedings, vol. 37, no. 4, July 2016, pp. 324–34. PubMed, https://doi.org/10.2500/aap.2016.37.3958.
Karkos, P. D., et al. “Spirulina in Clinical Practice: Evidence-Based Human Applications.” Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : ECAM, vol. 2011, 2011, p. 531053. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.1093/ecam/nen058.
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McRae, Jeremy F., et al. “Genetic Variation in the Odorant Receptor OR2J3 Is Associated with the Ability to Detect the ‘Grassy’ Smelling Odor, Cis-3-Hexen-1-Ol.” Chemical Senses, vol. 37, no. 7, Sept. 2012, pp. 585–93. PubMed, https://doi.org/10.1093/chemse/bjs049.
Nieters, A., et al. “Association of Polymorphisms in Th1, Th2 Cytokine Genes with Hayfever and Atopy in a Subsample of EPIC-Heidelberg.” Clinical Experimental Allergy, vol. 34, no. 3, Mar. 2004, pp. 346–53. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2222.2004.01889.x.
Petra, Anastasia I., et al. “Interleukin 33 and Interleukin 4 Regulate Interleukin 31 Gene Expression and Secretion from Human Laboratory of Allergic Diseases 2 Mast Cells Stimulated by Substance P and/or Immunoglobulin E.” Allergy and Asthma Proceedings, vol. 39, no. 2, Mar. 2018, pp. 153–60. PubMed, https://doi.org/10.2500/aap.2018.38.4105.
Ramasamy, Adaikalavan, et al. “A Genome-Wide Meta-Analysis of Genetic Variants Associated with Allergic Rhinitis and Grass Sensitization and Their Interaction with Birth Order.” Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, vol. 128, no. 5, Nov. 2011, pp. 996–1005. www.jacionline.org, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2011.08.030.
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Singh, A., et al. “Immune-Modulatory Effect of Probiotic Bifidobacterium Lactis NCC2818 in Individuals Suffering from Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis to Grass Pollen: An Exploratory, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.” European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vol. 67, no. 2, Feb. 2013, pp. 161–67. PubMed, https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2012.197.