Oats
Oats have been implicated in food allergy and intolerance problems but far less so than many other foods. In the management of coeliac disease it has been widely accepted that oats must also be excluded from the diet, along with wheat, rye and barley, but some research indicates that this may not be necessary.
Hallert et al present a review of published reports and details of their own experience at including oats in the gluten-free diets of adults. They found oats to be safe and well tolerated by adults with coeliac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis, though the risk of wheat contamination of commercial oat products was a cause of concern. Similar findings were reported from a study of adolescents, but no such studies have been made of small children. They conclude that that the inclusion of oats would broaden the range of foodstuffs tolerable to coeliac patients, though they should be used only by adults until more information is available. (1)
A study of adults with coeliac disease compared the effects of a gluten-free diet including oats with a conventional gluten-free diet. It concluded that adults with coeliac disease can consume moderate amounts of oats without adverse immunological effects. (2)
Leaving the gluten issue aside, oats can be implicated in other problems as the following research shows.
A history of acute symptoms - cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, fever, stuffy nose, and skin itching/rash - following exposure to grain dust was obtained from 661 male and 535 female current and former farmers. Barley and oats dust were perceived as most often producing symptoms. (3)
Clinical features, hypersensitivity mechanisms, and differential diagnosis of cereal allergy or intolerance were investigated in children with atopic dermatitis (AD). On oral provocation, 18 children had a positive response to wheat, three to rye, one to barley, and one to oats. (4)
A man who sneezed continuously for more than three decades, eventually discovered that he had a mild oat allergy. (5)
Although particular conditions have been mentioned above it is important to remember that any food can cause any condition. See the food intolerance articles or read Change Your Diet and Change Your Life.
REFERENCES
(1) Hallert C, Olsson M, Storsrud S, Lenner RA, Kilander A,
Stenhammar L. Oats can be included in gluten-free diet. Lakartidningen
1999 Jul 28;96(30-31):3339-40
(2) Janatuinen E K, Kemppainen T A, Pikkarainen P H, Holm K H, Kosma
V-M, Uusitupa M I J, Maki M, Julkunen R J K. Lack of cellular and
humoral immunological responses to oats in adults with coeliac disease.
Gut 2000; 46: 327-31
(3) Manfreda J, Holford-Strevens V, Cheang M, Warren CP. Acute symptoms
following exposure to grain dust in farming. Environ Health Perspect
1986 Apr;66:73-80
(4) Rasanen L, Lehto M, Turjanmaa K, Savolainen J, Reunala T. Allergy to
ingested cereals in atopic children. Allergy 1994 Dec;49(10):871-6
(5)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_812000/812034.stm