Infants given peanut early are less likely to be allergic in adolescence
LEAP-Trio trial showed lasting tolerance to peanuts in adolescence
New research co-authored by Dr. Michelle Huffaker, a provider at AAMG, showed a 71% reduction in peanut allergy rates in adolescents who ate peanut regularly from infancy (4-6 months) through 5 years of age, regardless of subsequent peanut consumption.
New exciting research, co-authored by Dr. Michelle Huffaker, a provider here at AAMG, has shown that introducing peanut butter during infancy through early childhood can reduce the risk of developing a peanut allergy, even years down the line.
The trial, called Leap Trio, conducted at King's College London in collaboration with the Immune Tolerance Network at UCSF, tracked over 500 high-risk infants over 12 years, significantly longer than previous research, to assess the long-term effects of early peanut exposure. Regular consumption of peanut products from infancy - with first exposure between 4 and 6 months - through 5 years of age was associated with a 71% reduction in the rate of peanut allergies among adolescents, regardless of peanut consumption in subsequent years.
Peanut allergies are at an all time high, affecting as many as 1 in 50 children. Peanut allergies can place a large burden on families and represent a significant public health concern due to the potential for life-threatening anaphylaxis with accidental peanut exposure. Previous advice was to avoid peanut exposure until 3 years of age due to fear of peanut allergies, but there is evidence that there is a significant reduction in the prevalence of peanut allergies in countries that children are fed peanut from a young age. Peanut allergies typically develop between 6 and 12 months of age, so exposure before this time can be critical for preventing development of peanut allergy.
Infants should not be given peanuts or pieces of peanuts as they are choking hazards. However, it is now recommended that peanut should be safely introduced when infants are ready for solid foods, ideally between 4 and 6 months, through a smooth purée of peanut butter with breast milk, formula, or even just water. Finely ground peanut puffs can be another safe option for infants to consume. At that point, it is recommended that peanut is consumed 3-4 times per week, for a total of 1.5 tablespoons of peanut butter or its equivalent per week until age 5. This should be done under the guidance of a pediatrician in patients who are at low risk for food allergies, and under the guidance of an allergist for patients with eczema and egg allergies who are at higher risk of food allergies.
The research team of the LEAP-Trio trial estimates that globally, over 100,000 cases of peanut allergy could be prevented each year with this knowledge. As Dr. Huffaker said, “"We'd love to spread the word to more families and reach people that may not know about this.” Fortunately, this exciting research was covered in the Washington Post, BBC, and CNN Health, and we hope you will share this knowledge with your friends and family, too.
