Thank you for your inquiry.
Cottonseed allergy is reasonably rare. According to my memory plus a literature search, there have been no articles on cottonseed allergy in our literature in at least the last two decades. The academic literature on this subject therefore is, as noted, not current, and there have been no recent cases reported.
In concert with these observations is the fact that the "Ask the Expert" website has never received a previous inquiry about cottonseed allergy. If one "Googles" the subject, there are several lay websites that discuss the issue; however, the information on these sites may not have been validated.
You did not ask a specific question about cottonseed allergy, so I am simply referring you to the most recent medical literature that I could find on this subject in the form of two abstracts which are copied for you below. These are articles that appeared in our journal, The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. If you work for an allergist I feel certain they can access these articles for you. If not you can access them for a fee.
In addition, I have copied below the link to a website that makes a statement as to whether or not there is any cottonseed allergen in cottonseed oil. When you pull up this website, you will see that it was felt that there was no significant cottonseed allergen present in cottonseed oil. Many patients who ask about seed allergy wonder if the allergen is present in oil, and so I added this website to my response.
Thank you again for your inquiry and we hope this response is helpful to you.
J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1988 Aug;82(2):242-50.
Cottonseed hypersensitivity: new concerns over an old problem.
Atkins FM, Wilson M, Bock SA.
Source
National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, Denver, Colo 80206.
Abstract
Seven subjects, who experienced systemic allergic reactions after the ingestion of a newly marketed food supplement, were evaluated to identify the responsible ingredient. Skin testing with extracts prepared from ingredients in the food supplements revealed marked sensitization of all of the subjects to cottonseed protein. Double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenges performed in two subjects with cottonseed flour produced reactions consisting of oropharyngeal pruritus, rhinitis, nausea, diaphoresis, dyspnea, cough, and a fall in pulmonary function tests of 45% or more. All placebo challenges were negative. Because of the reactions observed during these challenges, other subjects were not challenged orally with cottonseed protein but consumed without incident other ingredients in the supplement to which they were skin test positive. Our evaluation strongly incriminates cottonseed protein as the cause of the systemic allergic reactions in these subjects and is consistent with earlier articles in the literature describing the potent allergenicity of cottonseed protein.
J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1988 Aug;82(2):261-4.
Angioedema and urticaria caused by cottonseed protein in whole-grain bread.
Malanin G, Kalimo K.
Source
Department of Dermatology, University of Turku, Finland.
Abstract
A 29-year-old patient developed a severe allergic reaction after eating whole-grain bread. The bread appeared to contain cotton seed-protein flour. The skin prick tests with the bread and cottonseed were strongly positive. High level of circulating antibodies of IgE class against cottonseed protein could be detected in her blood samples. It is evident that cottonseed flour is used in diverse products and can cause unexpected severe hypersensitivity reactions.
Allergy to Cottonseed and other oilseeds and their Edible Derivatives
California Medicine. 1949 November; 71(5): 384.
Sincerely,
Phil Lieberman, M.D.