P.M. BRIEFING : Some Found Allergic to Psyllium
Psyllium, a cereal grain that is supposed to do wonders for a person’s cholesterol count, may spark a life-threatening allergic reaction, according to a letter to be published in Thursday’s New England Journal of Medicine.
Dr. Martin J. Kaplan of Highland Park, Ill., said a 43-year-old patient developed an allergic reaction shortly after eating Kellogg’s “Heartwise” cereal, which contains psyllium. Her face, eyes, mouth and tongue swelled, and she coughed and vomited before fainting.
The woman, a nurse, recovered in a local hospital.
In a response to the letter, a Kellogg official acknowledged that “there have been approximately 50 reported allergic reactions to the product.”
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