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New research has demonstrated that feeding children peanuts regularly from infancy to age five can significantly decrease the risk of developing peanut allergies in adolescence by a remarkable 71%. The findings, published in the NEJM Evidence by researchers from King’s College London, emphasize the long-term benefits of early peanut introduction in preventing allergies later in life.
Lead investigator Professor Gideon Lack highlighted the profound implications of the study’s results, stating, “Decades of advice to avoid peanuts has made parents fearful of introducing peanuts at an early age. The evidence is clear that early introduction of peanut in infancy induces long-term tolerance and protects children from allergy well into adolescence. This simple intervention will make a remarkable difference to future generations and see peanut allergies plummet.”
The study, known as the LEAP-Trio trial, builds upon earlier research from the Learning Early About Peanut Allergy (LEAP) clinical trial. In the original trial, children were either regularly exposed to peanuts or advised to avoid them until age five. Results showed an 81% reduction in peanut allergy risk by age five among those who consumed peanuts early.
Following up on these findings, researchers tracked participants from age six into adolescence, allowing them to freely choose their peanut consumption habits. Despite varying levels of peanut intake among participants over the years, the protective effect of early introduction persisted. By adolescence, only 4.4% of those who regularly consumed peanuts in early childhood developed a peanut allergy, compared to 15.4% of those who avoided peanuts.
Co-Lead Investigator Professor George Du Toit emphasized the safety and effectiveness of early peanut introduction, stating, “This is a safe and highly effective intervention which can be implemented as early as 4 months of age. The infant needs to be developmentally ready to start weaning, and peanut should be introduced as a soft pureed paste or as peanut puffs.”
The study employed rigorous methods to assess peanut allergy status, including oral food challenges and environmental monitoring of peanut exposure. These measures confirmed that early and sustained peanut consumption offers lasting protection against developing peanut allergies, even with varying consumption patterns throughout childhood and adolescence.
Professor Lack further underscored the global impact of this intervention, estimating that early peanut introduction could prevent over 100,000 new cases of peanut allergy annually worldwide.
The findings provide compelling evidence for updating current guidelines to encourage early peanut introduction in infants, aiming to curb the rising prevalence of peanut allergies in Western countries where rates are notably high. As further research continues to support these conclusions, health authorities may consider integrating these practices into pediatric healthcare to benefit future generations.
This study marks a significant stride towards understanding and mitigating peanut allergies, offering hope for families and healthcare providers grappling with this increasingly prevalent health concern.
