Peanut Allergy Rates Show Promise of Decline Following Shift in Infant Feeding Advice
London, UK – After decades of advising parents to delay introducing peanuts to children, a reversal of that guidance is showing encouraging signs of curbing the rise in peanut allergies.Recent research indicates that early, consistent peanut consumption in high-risk infants can dramatically reduce the likelihood of developing a peanut allergy by age five – with one trial demonstrating an over 80% lower rate compared to those who avoided the legume.
For years, the prevailing medical advice was to avoid peanuts during pregnancy, breastfeeding, and early childhood. This stemmed from a lack of understanding regarding the advancement of oral tolerance – the process by which the immune system learns not to react to food allergens introduced through diet.Though, despite the change in advice, initial data showed peanut allergy rates did not fall. A major UK review in 2008 found “no clear evidence” that avoiding or consuming peanuts during these critical periods impacted allergy development.
Consequently, the UK reversed its avoidance advice in 2009. This policy shift was followed by a landmark randomised trial, published in 2014, which revealed the important protective effect of consistent peanut consumption starting at 11 months for infants deemed at high risk. Subsequent studies confirmed these findings, leading to updated guidelines in the US in 2015.
While the early introduction of potentially allergenic foods appears beneficial,significant gaps in knowledge remain. Researchers are still working to pinpoint the optimal age for safely inducing oral tolerance and understand why infants with atopic dermatitis are notably vulnerable to food allergies – a leading hypothesis suggests sensitization occurs through early exposure via a compromised skin barrier.
Despite the positive trends, the overall incidence of food allergies continues to rise, and allergies can develop even in adolescence and adulthood. Moreover, access to diagnosis and potentially life-saving treatments remains uneven, particularly for those in more deprived areas.
The emerging data offers a hopeful trajectory in the fight against peanut allergies, but experts emphasize the need for continued research to address remaining questions and ensure equitable access to care.
