Parents should introduce their children to peanut products as early as four months of age to prevent them from developing allergies, experts say.
The number of people suffering from allergic reactions to peanuts has tripled in recent decades and can have fatal consequences in severe cases.
About 1 in 50 children are affected today and have a lifelong concern about the ingredients in their food.
British researchers, however, have found a “window of opportunity” between four and six months of age. They say this is the perfect time to introduce your baby to peanuts.
By doing so, they said, the incidence of peanut allergy could be reduced by as much as 77%.
Experts found that introducing peanut products to babies aged 4 and 6 months reduced the subsequent incidence of peanut allergy by 77% (stock image)
According to a team from King’s College London and the University of Southampton, most peanut allergies develop before a child is one year old.
They looked at data from the Inquiring About Tolerance (EAT) and Learning Early About Peanut Allergy (LEAP) studies.
The Leap study included 640 babies considered at high risk of developing a peanut allergy and investigated early adoption of peanut products.
The Eat project has recruited over 1,300 3-month-old babies in England and Wales. They were followed over several years to investigate the early introduction of six allergenic foods: milk, peanuts, sesame seeds, fish, eggs, and wheat.
An analysis published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology found that introducing peanut products to babies between the ages of 4 and 6 months is best.
Doing so could reduce the incidence of peanut allergy by 77%, compared to only 33% if children were given peanuts when they were 1 year old.
Babies at high risk of developing allergies, such as those who already have eczema, should start nearing four months of age, they added.
The NHS now says that nuts and peanuts can be introduced from about 6 months of age, as long as they are crushed, ground, smooth nuts or peanut butter.
Based on their findings, scientists are asking the government to review the latest evidence.
Lead author Professor Graham Roberts said: “Current guidance suggests that peanuts should be introduced from around six months of age.
“The last government report on the introduction of foods into babies’ diets was published in 2018. Since then, there have been many studies suggesting that early introduction of peanuts and other foods can help prevent the development of allergies. Research has been published.
“The government believes that current guidance on when to introduce peanuts into a baby’s diet should be reviewed. should be introduced sooner.
He explained that a peanut allergy occurs when the body misidentifies peanuts as dangerous and reacts to it.
“Reactions can be systemic: swollen lips, an itchy rash, and breathing problems.”
“A baby’s immune system needs to learn how to distinguish between food and dangerous bugs that need to be kept out of the body.
“The way the body does this is by looking at things in form. When you see a fairly large amount of peanuts in your gut, you begin to see this as a safe food and you don’t develop allergies.”
Mary Feeney, a pediatric nutritionist at King’s College London, says their findings suggest that the recommended amount to reduce the chances of babies developing allergies is one teaspoon of peanut butter three times a week. It indicates to give
She warned that babies and preschool children should never be given whole or chopped nuts as they pose a choking hazard.
And babies should be developmentally ready to start solid foods when peanut products are introduced, she added.
Professor Gideon Lack, King’s College London and Guys and St. Thomas NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“This mirrors the experience in Israel, where peanut products are commonly introduced early in infant diets, and peanut allergies are rare.
“The opportunity to prevent the development of allergies is limited.
“Introducing peanut products at 4-6 months of age can significantly reduce the number of children who develop peanut allergies.”
First 9-year-old girl to benefit from life-changing peanut allergy treatment
Nine-year-old Emily Pratt became one of the first children in Europe to receive Parforzia, an immunotherapy drug that helps reduce the severity of symptoms such as anaphylaxis after a reaction to peanuts.
Children with peanut allergies nationwide will be the first in Europe to receive life-changing treatment.
NHS England has secured a deal for Parforzia, an immunotherapeutic drug that can help reduce the severity of symptoms, including anaphylaxis, after reactions to peanuts.
Evelina London Children’s Hospital participated in two large peanut allergy trials, the Palisade and Artemis trials.
Sophie Pratt said her family’s life changed after her daughter Emily, 9, attended the Palisade trial.
“Participating in a clinical trial has changed the lives of an entire family. The treatment we received freed Emily from limitations and fears that even the slightest mistake could endanger her life.” It also took away all the tension and worry that the simple act of eating confronted us every day.
“On special occasions such as birthdays, Christmas, and holidays when special foods such as cakes, ice cream, and sweets are often served, a ‘may contain peanuts’ warning or non-English It was particularly noticeable that the menu for was always displayed.
“Since the trial, Emily has been able to go to parties and playdates with confidence, eat at restaurants without having to call ahead to check the menu, and make her first trip abroad to New York. Able to manage the trip and even feed the animals, Emily’s passion is the zoo experience.
“I couldn’t be more grateful.”
In the Artemis study, about 6 out of 10 adolescents aged 4 to 17 who responded to about 10g of peanut protein at the start of the study were able to take a dose of 1,000mg by the end of the study. I understand. amount of incidental exposure.
Up to 600 children between the ages of 4 and 17 will be treated this year under a contract with the NHS. After that, about 2,000 people are treated annually.
Peanut allergy currently affects 1 in 50 children in the UK.
NHS Medical Director Professor Stephen Powis said:
“To reduce the fear and anxiety of patients and their families who may have lived with this allergy for years, I carry emergency medicine with me just in case.
“You should be able to enjoy eating out or vacationing abroad together without worrying about being hospitalized or worse with an allergic reaction.”
Professor George du Toit, Pediatric Allergy Consultant at Evelina London, was the UK Senior Investigator for both trials.
He said, “This is great news for children and young people with peanut allergies. access to the first approved therapy to protect against accidental exposure to
“This will have a huge impact on the daily lives of patients and their families.”
