Could it be alpha-Gal Syndrome?

Published May 4, 2024

Stemming from a tick bite, alpha-Gal Syndrome can cause the immune system to confuse a sugar found in red meat for an enemy—leading to delayed and potentially severe allergic reactions.¹

What’s alpha-Gal Syndrome?

Tick bites can trigger a surprising allergy called alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS). AGS is also called alpha-Gal allergy, red meat allergy, or tick bite meat allergy.¹

It can happen like this¹:

1. A tick feeds on a mammal (like a deer) and picks up a sugar called alpha-Gal.
2. If that tick then bites a person, it can pass some of that sugar into the person's bloodstream.
3. The person’s immune system sees the sugar as something that shouldn’t be there. So, it responds by making antibodies to fight off the invaders. This initial exposure to alpha-Gal usually doesn't cause any symptoms.
4. Later, when the person eats red meat, organ meats, or other mammalian products (like milk), their immune system—now ready to react to alpha-Gal—causes an allergic reaction. The allergic reaction can be mild, severe, or even life threatening. The catch? Symptoms often show up hours after eating, making it easy to miss the connection.

What are the symptoms of alpha-Gal Syndrome?

Unlike most food allergies, symptoms of AGS don't show up right away. Instead, it can take at least 2 hours—and sometimes up to 5 hours or longer—for a reaction to occur. This delayed allergic reaction can make it difficult to figure out that alpha-Gal is to blame.¹

Signs and symptoms of alpha-Gal Syndrome can include¹

• Sneezing
• Itchy rash
• Hives
• Headache
• Stomach pain
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Swelling
• Wheezing or shortness of breath
• Anaphylaxis (pronounced an-uh-fuh-lak-sis)

What exactly is alpha-Gal?

Alpha-Gal is a type of sugar that humans don't naturally have. But it's found in the bodies of most mammals like cows, pigs, and deer. This means it's also in meat from these mammals and some other products made from them, like dairy and gelatin. Eating these products can trigger allergic reactions in people with AGS.¹

Below are some foods or products where alpha-Gal can be found[¹ ³]:

• Beef
• Pork
• Rabbit
• Lamb
• Goat
• Venison
• Bear
• Organ meats
• Dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt)
• Gelatin made from beef or pork (gummy candies, marshmallows, gelatin desserts)
• Lard and tallow
• Certain medications, vaccines, and gelcaps

Alpha-Gal isn’t naturally found in chicken, turkey, duck, quail, fish, shellfish, seafood, or fruits and vegetables.³

Does cooking meat get rid of alpha-Gal?

No, cooking meat doesn’t get rid of alpha-Gal. Even if the meat is cooked to a "well done" state, it doesn’t eliminate the alpha-Gal sugar molecule. The cooking temperature, no matter how high or how long the meat is cooked, won't destroy the molecule. This means that all forms of mammalian meat—regardless of cooking method, whether it's grilled, boiled, fried, or baked—can cause symptoms in sensitive individuals. And some people might even have symptoms after inhaling meat fumes.¹ ⁴

What types of ticks are linked to alpha-Gal Syndrome?

So far, 8 types of ticks are suspected carriers.⁴ But lone star ticks hold the strongest link to AGS. They are found in many parts of the eastern, southeastern, and south-central US.⁵ Look for these signs to identify adult lone star ticks⁶:

• Females: A single white dot or "lone star" on their backs
• Males: White spots or streaks around the outer part of their bodies

Is alpha-Gal Syndrome like Lyme disease?

Tick bites are behind both AGS and Lyme disease, but they aren’t the same. AGS is an allergy to foods containing alpha-Gal that can develop after a tick bite.¹ Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread to a person through the bite of an infected tick.⁷

How could alpha-Gal trigger an immune response?

The sugar molecule alpha-Gal, commonly found in red meat, usually doesn't cause problems. But for those with AGS, their immune system reacts differently. It sees alpha-Gal as something harmful and makes special defenders, known as antibodies, to fight it. These defenders are called immunoglobulin E (pronounced im-mew-no-glob-you-lin E), or IgE for short. These antibodies stick to cells in areas like the skin, lungs, and digestive system, ready to defend against alpha-Gal. And should alpha-Gal reappear, they'll be prepared to sound the alarm.

Now, suppose this person eats food containing alpha-Gal. These “remembering” IgE antibodies recognize it and sound the alarm by triggering an allergic response. This causes the cells to release chemicals like histamine. This reaction is what can cause allergy symptoms like hives, itching, diarrhea, swelling, or even anaphylaxis.⁸ ⁹

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