Abstract
In a book devoted to a discussion of drugs and drug effects it may, at first glance, be surprising to find a group of physiologic substances like the vitamins. Originally vitamins were regarded as nutritive elements rather than as drugs or drug-equivalent compounds. We feel, therefore, that it is very important to reevaluate the position of the vitamins within the class of biologically active substances. The vitamins comprise a group of widely different chemical compounds and because of this variety, are somewhat difficult to define comprehensively. So far, the most generally accepted definition of vitamins is that given by Folkers (1969): “A vitamin is an organic substance of nutritional nature, which is present in low concentration as a natural component of enzyme systems and catalyzes required reactions, and may be derived externally to the tissue or by intrinsic biosynthesis.” To this definition it should be explicitly added that the intake of vitamins is essential for the maintenance of life and the well-being of the individual. In a book dealing with drug allergy in general and in a chapter presenting a discussion of allergic reactions to vitamins in particular, it is important to appreciate the dichotomy of the vitamins primarily as essential nutritive factors and only secondarily as drug-equivalent compounds. This feature clearly separates the vitamins from all of the other compounds discussed in this volume, which have no relation at all to nutrition in the sense the vitamins have.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Acharya V, Store SD, Golwalla AF (1969) Anaphylaxis following ingestion of aneurine hydrochloride. J Indian Med Assoc 52:84–85
Aeling JL, Panagotacos PJ, Andreozzi RJ (1973) Allergic contact dermatitis to vitamin E aerosol deodorant. Arch Dermatol 108:579–580
Alexander HL (1955) Reactions with drug therapy. Saunders, Philadelphia London
Auzepy P, Veissieres J-F, Deparis M (1974) Choc anaphylactique dû à l’hydroxocobalamine. Nouv Presse Med 3:152
Barazzone V, Lambelet F (1954) Accidents mortels après injection de thiamine. Nouv Presse Med 62:1867–1868
Barnes HM, Sarkany I (1976) Adverse skin reaction from vitamin K1. Br J Dermatol 95:653–656
Bedford PD (1952) Side effects of a preparation of vitamin B12. Br Med J 1:690–692
Bekier E, Maslinski C (1974) Antihistaminic action of nicotinamide. Agents Actions 4/3:196
Bianco S, Robuschi M, Grugni A, Allegra L (1977) Prevention of prostaglandin F 2 α induced broncho constriction by ascorbic-acid in asthmatic patients. Int Res Commun Syst 5:33
Bleumink E (1979) Food allergy and the gastrointestinal tract. In: Immunology of the gastrointestinal tract. Asquith & Gell, Edinburgh London New York
Blum KU, Kasemir H, Scharfe W (1974) Untersuchungen zur Pathogenese der anaphylaktischen Reaktionen nach Thiamin-Applikation. Verh Dtsch Ges Inn Med 80:1569
Bonjour JP (1980) Vitamins and alcoholism, IL Folate and vitamin B12. Int J Vitam Nutr Res 50:96–121
Bonnet J, Florens A (1969) Le bépanthêne et la biotine dans quelques indications de la pratique dermatologique courante. Gaz Med Fr 76:1201–1203
Bouvier CA, Maurice PA (1964) Liver and blood coagulation. In: The liver, vol II. Academic Press, New York London
Briggs M, Briggs M (1974) Are vitamine E supplements beneficial? Med J Aust 1:434–437
Brodkin RH, Bleiberg H (1965) Sensitivity to topically applied vitamin E. Arch Dermatol 92:76–77
Brodulin YD (1961) Anaphylactic shock as a complication of vitamin B12. Klin Med 8:139–141
Bullen AW, Miller JP, Cunliffe WJ, Losowsky MS (1978) Skin reactions caused by vitamin K in patients with liver disease. Br J Dermatol 98:561–565
Burnet FM (1959) The clonal selection theory of acquired immunity. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Carton MFX (1965) Réaction allergique au cours d’un traitement: vitamine K1 + extrait de foi. Bull Soc Fr Dermatol Syphilol 72:228
Chanarin I, Fenton JCB, Mollin DL (1957) Sensitivity to folic acid. Br Med J 1:1162–1163
Chatterjee IB (1973) Evolution and the biosynthesis of ascorbic acid. Science 182:1271–1272
Chick H (1975) The discovery of vitamins. Prog Food Nutr Sci 1:1–20
Conrad DH, Wirtz GH (1973) Characterization of antibodies to vitamin A. Immunochemistry 10:273–275
Cooper JR, Pincus JH (1979) The role of thiamine in nervous tissue. Neurochem Res 4:223–239
Cope EP (1942) Contact dermatitis due to cod liver oil. Arch Dermatol Syphilol 42:140–141
Currier WD (1970) Nonimmunologic factors in allergy. Part 2. Nutrition. Trans Am Soc Ophthalmol Ot olaryngol Allergy 11:78–89
Dalderup CBM (1968) Vitamins. In: Side effects of drugs, 6. Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam London New York, pp 573–582
Dalderup CBM (1972) Vitamins. In: Side effects of drugs, 7. Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam London New York, pp 507–515
Dally S, Gaultier M (1976) Choc anaphylactique dû à l’hydroxocobalamine. Nouv Presse Med 5:1917
Dam H (1929) Cholesterinstoffwechsel im Hühnerei und Hühnchen. Biochem Z 215:475–492
Danilov LN (1973) Anaphylactic shock during vitamin B6 treatment. Klin Med 51:139
Dawson W, West GB (1965) The importance of bradykinin in anaphylactic shock. J Pharm Pharmacol 17:246–277
De Luca LM, Glover J, Heller J, Olson JA, Underwood B (1979) Recent advances in the metabolism and function of vitamin A and their relationship to applied nutrition. In: A report of the international vitamin A consultative group (IVACg) Nutrition Found Inc, New York
de Weck AL (1971) Drug reactions. In: Immunological diseases. Little Brown, Boston
Di Palma JR, Ritchie DM (1977) Vitamin toxicity. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol 17:133–148
Dresser DW (1968) Adjuvanticity of vitamin A. Nature 217:527–529
Engelhardt HT, Baird VC (1949) Sensitivity to thiamine hydrochloride. Ann Allergy 4:291–292
Evans WC (1975) Thiaminases and their effects on animals. Vitam Horm 33:467–504
Faivre M, Saif N, Barrai C (1975) Accidents de la vitamine B12. Lyon Med 233:897–993
Feinberg SM (1948) Anaphylactic shock due to nicotinic acid. NY State J Med 48:635
Fisher AA (1975) Contact dermatitis in surgeons. J Dermatol Surg 1:63–67
Fishman L, Goldstein M (1968) Vitamins in dermatology. J Med Assoc Ga 57:342–346
Folkers K (1969) Survey on the vitamin aspects of coenzyme Q. Int J Vitam Nutr Res 39:334–352
Fuchs E (1979) Klinische Diagnostik der Allergosen. Prax Pneumol 33:268–276
Gillhespy RO (1955) Reaction to vitamin B12. Lancet 1:1076
Goodman DeW S (1974) Vitamin A transport and retinol-binding-protein metabolism. Vitam Horm 32:167–180
Gordon ES (1947) Nutrition and vitamin therapy in general practice. Year Book Publishers, Chicago
Graeber JE, Williams ML, Oski FA (1977) The use of intramuscular vitamin E in the premature infant. J Pediatr 90:282–283
Graham JDP (1979) An introduction to human pharmacology. Oxford University Press, Oxford New York Toronto
Greenbaum J (1979) Vitamin A sensitivity. Ann Allergy 43:93–99
Greengard P (1970) Water soluble vitamins. I. The vitamin B complex. In: The pharmacological basis of therapeutics, 4th edn. Colher Macmillan, London Toronto
Groff JP, Blakley RL (1978) Rescue of human lymphoid cells from the effects of methotrexate in vitro. Cancer Res 38:3847–3853
Gyoergy P, Langer BW (1968) Biotin. XII. Pharmacology. In: The vitamins, 2nd edn., Academic Press, New York London
Heel RC, Brodgen RN, Speight TM, Avery GS (1977) Vitamin A acid: a review of its pharmacological properties and therapeutic use in the topical treatment of acne vulgaris. Drugs 14:401–419
Hellriegel KP, Reuter H (1975) Side effects of vitamins. In: Meyler’s side effects of drugs, 8. Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam London New York, pp 799–811
Hellriegel KP, Reuter H (1978) Vitamins. In: Side effects of drugs, annual 2. Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam London New York, pp 305–309
Heydenreich G (1977) A further case of adverse skin reaction from vitamin K1. Br J Dermatol 97:697
Hitchcock M (1975) Stimulation of immunologic histamine (H) release and production of prostaglandin F2 α (PGF2 α) by ascorbic acid. Fed Proc 34:798
Hoigné R, Naegeli H (1957) Schockzustände bei Sensibilisierung auf Arzneimittel. Helv Med Acta 24:27–38
Horwitt MK (1972) Vitamin B2: pharmacology and toxicology. Vitamins 5:85–87
Hovding G (1968) Anaphylactic reaction after injection of vitamin B12. Br Med J 610:102
James J, Warin RP (1971) Sensitivity to cyanocobalamin and hydroxocobalamin. Br Med J 5756:262
James P (1978) Vitamin E and malignant hyperthemia. Br Med J 1:1345
James P (1979) Vitamin E and malignant hyperthermia. Br Med J 1:200
Jirasek L, Schwank R (1965) Berufskontaktekzem durch Vitamin K. Hautarzt 18:353–355
Jordan WP, Higgins M, Dvorak J (1975) Allergic contact dermatitis to all-trans-retinoic acid; epicutaneous and leukocyte migration inhibition testing. Contact Dermatitis 1:306–310
Kadlec K, Hanslian L (1965) Gruppenallergie gegen Pyridinderivate. Hautkrankheiten 13:283–288
Kaidbey KH, Kligman AM, Yoshida H (1975) Effects of intensive application of retinoic acid on human skin. Br J Dermatol 92:693–701
Kalz F (1942) Thiamine hydrochloride — an obligate wheal producing agent. J Invest Dermatol 5:135–137
Kassen B, Mitchell JC (1974) Contact urticaria from a vitamin E preparation in two siblings. Contact Dermatitis Newslett 16:482
Kleinhans D (1979 a) Die Bedeutung des Radio-Allergo-Sorbens-Tests (RAST) in der Allergiediagnostik. Therapiewoche 29:3608–3622
Kleinhans D (1979b) Anaphylactoide Arzneimittelreaktionen. Therapiewoche 29:5492–5494
Koda A, Shimazawa T, Watanabe S, Yanagihara A (1972) Anti-allergic effect of nicotinic acid derivatives and related compounds of Mephenesin. Jpn J Pharmacol 22:111
Körner WF, Völlm J (1976) In: Klinische Pharmakologie und Pharmakotherapie. Urban & Schwarzenberg, Munich Berlin Vienna
Kordansky DW, Rosenthal RR, Norman PS (1979) The effect of vitamin C on antigen-induced bronchospasm. J Allergy Clin Immunol 63:61–64
Krueger GG, Molk L, Kahn G (1972) Exacerbation of atopic dermatitis. Arch Dermatol 105:405–406
Lagerholm B, Lodin A, Gentele H (1958) Hypersensitivity to phenylcarbinol preservative in vitamin B12 for injection. Acta Allergol 12:295–296
Landsteiner K (1945) In: The specificity of serological reactions. Harvard University Press, Cambridge
Laws CL (1941) Sensitization to thiamine hydrochloride. JAMA 117:176
Levander-Lindgren M (1957) Hypersensitivity to folic acid in a case of erythroblastomatosis. Acta Med Scand 157:233–234
Lind J (1953) In: A treatise of the scurvy. Millow, London
Lindgren S, Groth O, Molin L (1976) Allergic contact response to vitamin A acid. Contact Dermatitis 2:212–217
Maeda M (1969) Vitamin K1-eruption followed by eczematous dissemination. Jpn J Dermatol 79:313
Malten KE (1975) Flare reaction due to vitamin B12 in a patient with psoriasis and contact eczema. Contact Dermatitis 1(5):325–326
Mathur BP (1966) Sensitivity of folic acid: a case report. Indian J Med Sci 20(2): 133–134
Meuwissen JHJM (1978) Allergische reacties veroorzaakt door vitamine B12. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 122:685
Meyler L (1952) Side effects of drugs. Elsevier, Amsterdam Houston London New York
Meyler L (1957) Side effects of drugs, 1. Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam London New York, pp 102–106
Meyler L (1958) Side effects of drugs, 2. Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam London New York, pp 151–154
Meyler L (1960) Side effects of drugs, 3. Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam London New York, pp 189–193
Meyler L (1963) Side effects of drugs, 4. Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam London New York, pp 299–305
Meyler L (1966) Side effects of drugs, 5. Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam London New York, pp 393–397
Mills CA (1941) Discussion on vitamin therapy. JAMA 117:1500–1502
Minkin W, Cohen HJ, Frank SB (1973) Contact dermatitis from deodorants. Arch Dermatol 107:774–775
Mitchell DC, Vilter RW, Vilter CF (1949) Hypersensitivity to folic acid. Ann Intern Med 31:1102–1105
Mitrani MM (1944) Vitamin B1 hypersensitivity with desensitization. J Allergy 15:150–153
Murthy PNA, Mistry SP (1977) Biotin. Prog Fed Nutr Sci 2:405–455
Nater JP (1975) Drugs used on the skin. In: Meyler’s side effects of drugs, 8. Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam London New York, pp 331–405
Nater JP (1977) Drugs used on the skin. In: Side effects of drugs, annual 1. Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam London New York, pp 124–139
Nater JP (1978) Drugs used on the skin. In: Side effects of drugs, annual 2. Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam London New York, pp 130–143
National Academy of Sciences (1980) Recommended dietary allowances, ninth revised edition. National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC
Nava C (1971) Allergic reaction to vitamin B12. Med Lav 62:285–291
Neal RA, Sauberlich HE (1973) Thiamin. In: Modern nutrition in health and disease, 5th edn, Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia
Olson JA (1967) The metabolism of vitamin A. Pharmacol Rev 19:559–596
Opree W (1979) Pathogenese atopischer Erkrankungen aus immunologischer Sicht. Verlag Chemie, Weinheim New York
Panzani MR (1961) Un cas d’asthma par sensibilisation à l’acide L-ascorbique. Nouv Presse Med 69:1928
Parrot J-L, Wyczolkowska A, Santais MC, Ruff F (1974) The action of nicotinamide on the release of histamine. Agents Actions 4:202
Pauling L (1968) Orthomolecular somatic and psychiatric medicine. J Vital Subst Dis Civiliz 14:1
Pauling L (1974) Early evidence about vitamin C and the common cold. J Orthomol Psychiatry 3:139
Pedersen JT (1966) Allergiske reaktioner efter vitamindgift (en oversigt og et tilfaelde). Ugeskr Laeger 128:708–709
Peiner L (1947) Anaphylaxis to the injection of nicotinic acid (niacin), successful treatment with epinephrine. Ann Intern Med 26:290–304
Pepys J (1975) Skin tests in diagnosis. In: Clinical aspects of immunology, 3rd edn. Black-well, Oxford
Pevny I, Hartmann A, Metz I (1977) Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin) Allergie. Hautarzt 28:600–603
Pollitt NT (1968) Large intravenous dosage of thiamine. JAMA 203:175
Powers BR (1948) Circulatory collapse following intravenous administration of nicotinic acid. Ann Intern Med 29:558–560
Prish WE, Hughes EG (1979) Specific IgE antibodies to platinum salts in sensitized workers. Clin Allergy 9:109–117
Rachmilewitz M, Glueck HI (1938) Treatment of pellagra with nicotinic acid. Br Med J 2:346–348
Rand S, Collin WS, Fireman P (1979) IgE and IgG antibodies in allergic children immunized with alum or fluid diphtheria and tetanus toxoid. J Allergy Clin Immunol 63:147
Randazzo SD, Giardina A, Cavallaro A (1972) Dermatosi iatrogene da vitamine. G Ital Dermatol 47:350–354
Rausch F (1956) Anaphylaktischer Schock nach Folsäure. Ther Ggw 95:53–55
Reuter H, Hellriegel KP (1977) Vitamins. In: Side effects of drugs, annual 1. Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam London New York, pp 274–280
Reuter HD, Hellriegel KP (1979) Vitamins. In: Side effects of drugs, annual 3. Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam London New York, pp 298–309
Ring J (1978) RIST, PRIST, RAST und so weiter. Dtsch Med Wochenschr 103:365–368
Roe DA (1976) Drug-induced nutritional deficiencies. AVI, Westport, Conn
Roed-Petersen J, Hjorth N (1975) Patch test sensitization from D,L-alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E). Contact Dermatitis 1:391–393
Rosenblatt DS (1978) Folinic acid inhibits the accumulation of methotrexate poly glutamates by cultured human cells. Clin Res 26:875 A
Rust S (1954) Über allergische Reaktionen bei Vitamintherapie. Z Hautkr 17:317–319
Saif N, Faivre M, Barrai C, Lery N (1975) Chocs après la vitamine B12. Bull Med Leg Toxicol Med 18:65–67
Schiff L (1941) Collapse following parenteral administration of solution of thiamine hydrochloride. JAMA 117:609
Schoepf H (1977) Allergie gegen Vitamin K1. Z Hautkr 52:703–705
Schon WF (1975) Allergic skin disease caused by cosmetics. Am Fam Physician 12:90–95
Schroeder H, Belin L, Lanner A (1979) Comparison between skin prick test, RAST-based methods, and rocket electrophonesis for assay of allergen extract potency. J Allergy Clin Immunol 63:194
Semenovich NI, Samoilova LN, Kakoeva LD (1976) Blastic lymphocyte transformation test for drug allergy. Ter Arkh 48:103–108
Seusing J (1951) Allergisches Verhalten gegen Vitamin B1 (Aneurin, Thiamin). Klin Wochenschr 29:394
Shapero W, Gwinner MW (1947) Sensitivity to thiamine hydrochloride. Ann Allergy 5:349–352
Sharma SC, Wilson CWM (1977) The relationship of L-ascorbic acid to the antigen-antibody reaction. Ir J Med Sci 146:310
Sharma SC, Garg SK, Wilson CWM (1976) The effect of L-ascorbic-acid on the in-vitro production of prostaglandin E and prostaglandin F by the guinea-pig lung. Int Res Commun Syst 4:573
Soloshenko EN, Brailovskii AY, Bazarnova MA (1971) Tests of lympho blastic transformation in drug allergy. Klin Med 49:131–135
Spiegel AJ, Noseworthy MM (1963) Use of non-aqueous solvents in parenteral products. J Pharm Sci 52:917–927
Spitznagel JD, Allison AC (1970) Mode of action of adjuvants: Retinol and other lysosomelabilizing agents as adjuvants. J Immunol 1:128–139
Stiles MH (1941) Hypersensitivity to thiamine chloride with a note on sensitivity to pyridoxine. J Allergy 12:507–509
Temime P, Castelain PY (1960) Accident anaphylactique après la vitamine B1 avec oedème de Quincke. Nouv Presse Med 68:2058
Tetreault AF, Beck IA (1956) Anaphylactic shock following intramuscular thiamine chloride. Ann Intern Med 45:134–138
Texier L, Gauthier Y, Gauthier O (1974) Sclérodermies lombofessières consécutives à des injections intramusculaires de la vitamine K1. Bordeaux Med 7:1571–1583
Thomas WR, Holt PG (1978) Vitamin C and immunity: an assessment of the evidence. Clin Exp Immunol 32:370–379
Trousseau A (1861) Clin Med Hôtel-Dieu Paris. Baillière, Paris
Ungley CC (1955) The chemotherapeutic action of vitamin B12. Vitam Horm 13:137–211
Unna KR (1972) Thiamine, pharmacology and toxicology. The vitamins, chemistry, physiology, phathology, methods 5, 2nd edn. academic Press, New York London, pp 150 – 155
Unna K, Greslin JG (1942) Studies on the toxicity and pharmacology of riboflavin. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 76:75–80
Vassal P (1975) A propos de trois allergies respiratoires et cutanées à l’acide ascorbique. Rev Fr Allergol 16:103
Vukusic Z, Pavlovic S, Stojanovic D, Draskovic S (1970) The effect of vitamin C on the course of sensitization and on the intensity of anaphylactic reaction. Jugosl Physiol Pharmacol Acta 6:431–436
Watrous RM (1939) Dermatitis from industrial contact with nicotinic acid (B3). JAMA 112:2132
Widenbauer F (1936 a) Ascorbinsäurestudien an Säuglingen. Klin Wochenschr 15:815–817
Widenbauer F (1936 b) Toxische Nebenwirkungen von Ascorbinsäure. C-Hypervitaminose? Klin Wochenschr 15:1158–1159
Wilson CWM (1974) The relationship between allergic symptoms and vitamin C. Clin Allergy 4:221–223
Wilson CWM (1976 a) The role of ascorbic acid in allergic reaction. Proc Nutr Soc 35:121 A
Wilson CWM (1976 b) The relationship of the leucocyte ascorbic acid direct antigen challenge test (LAADACT) to the clinical manifestations of allergic sensitivity. Clin Allergy 6:414–415
Wilson CWM (1976 c) The role of ascorbic acid in drug sensitivity. Br J Clin Pharmacol 3:963P
Wilson CWM, Loh HS, Watters K (1975) Vitamin C metabolism and atopic allergy. Clin Allergy 5:317–324
Woodliff HJ, Davis RE (1966) Allergy to folic acid. Med J Aust 1:351–352
Wright LD (1956) The metabolism of biotin. Symposium on vitamin metabolism. National
Vitamin Foundation, New York, Nutrition Symposium Series
Young WC, Ulrich CW, Fouts PJ (1950) Sensitivity to vitamin B12 concentrate. JAMA 143:893–894
Zheltakov MM, Skripkin IK, Somov BA, Butov IS (1969) Allergic reactions due to group B vitamins. Vestn Dermatol Venerol 43:62–65
Zuskin E, Lewis AJ, Bouhuys A (1973) Inhibition of histamine-induced airway constriction by ascorbic acid. J Allergy Clin Immunol 51:218–226
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1983 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Schalch, W., Dostálová, L. (1983). Vitamins. In: de Weck, A.L., Bundgaard, H. (eds) Allergic Reactions to Drugs. Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology, vol 63. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-69088-4_23
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-69088-4_23
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-69090-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-69088-4
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive