Cofactors

Cofactors and alpha-gal syndrome (AGS)

Activity, alcohol consumption, and exercise can have profound influence on reactivity.

Commins SP. Diagnosis & management of alpha-gal syndrome: lessons from 2,500 patients. Expert Rev Clin Immunol. 2020;16(7):667-677.

Activity, alcohol consumption, and exercise can make you more likely to react to alpha-gal.

Cofactors such as alcohol consumption and exercise can make reactions to alpha-gal more likely. For example, if you drink wine with dinner or jog after lunch, you are more likely to react to any alpha-gal you consumed.

The most important cofactors are alcohol and exercise. Other cofactors include NSAIDs (like Advil), ACE inhibitors/β-agonists, illness, infection, stress, lack of sleep, and menstruation.

Allergist Dr. Zachary Rubin, MD talks about how cofactors can make your reactions worse. 

Cofactors in allergic reactions to food: physical exercise and alcohol are the most important

Versluis A, van Os-Medendorp H, Kruizinga AG, Blom WM, Houben GF, Knulst AC.  Immun Inflamm Dis. 2016;4(4):392-400.

Exercise-Induced Anaphylaxis

By Peter N Huynh, MD. From Medscape.

Does Alcohol Make Food Allergy Reactions Worse?

By Dr. Scott Sicherer. From Allergic Living.