Two recent studies have shed light on the benefits of exposing children to peanut products from an early age in order to reduce the risk of developing a peanut allergy later in life. Both studies were sponsored by the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and involved young children up to the age of 12 in one study and up to the age of 5 in the other. The findings of the research revealed that children who were fed peanuts as paste or puree until they were 5 were significantly less likely to develop a peanut allergy compared to those who avoided peanuts.
The results of the study indicated that while 15.4% of children who avoided peanuts developed an allergy by age 12, only 4.4% of those who were exposed to peanuts had the allergy. NIAID director Jeanne Marrazzo expressed that these findings should reassure parents about the benefits of following established guidelines on feeding their young children peanut products starting in infancy. She mentioned that if this strategy were widely implemented, it could help prevent tens of thousands of cases of peanut allergy among the millions of children born annually in the United States.
Lead investigator Gideon Lack explained that preventing peanut allergy needs to be done before the disease develops, ideally between the ages of six and 12 months when the allergy typically arises. Lack highlighted the principle of oral tolerance induction, where exposing young children to common food allergens like peanuts can help prevent allergies later in life. He mentioned that this principle has been known for many years and has been demonstrated in animal experiments as well.
While guidelines have recommended introducing peanuts to infants as early as 4 months old, many parents still express concerns about doing so. Guidelines suggest spreading peanut butter thinly or mixing it with breast milk, formula, or puree to reduce the risk of choking hazards posed by whole or chopped peanuts. Study author Huffaker mentioned that a simple solution like peanut butter mixed with warm water can work for young infants and does not need to be a complex concoction.
Overall, the results of these studies provide compelling evidence that early exposure to peanut products in infancy can significantly reduce the risk of developing a peanut allergy later in life. Following established guidelines and recommendations for introducing peanuts to young children may help prevent thousands of cases of this common food allergy. Despite some parental concerns, the benefits of early introduction appear to outweigh the risks, especially when considering the potential long-term health outcomes for children.
