Introducing peanut-based products such as peanut butter to children aged four to six months can reduce their risk of developing peanut allergy by 77%, according to a study. The research analysed two large studies and found that the prevalence of peanut allergy doubles within a decade in Western countries, with around 13,000 new cases each year in the UK alone. However, early introduction of peanut products can prevent 10,000 babies from developing peanut allergy each year in the UK. Experts advise that introducing solid food, including the equivalent of a heaping teaspoon of peanut butter, three times a week while continuing to breastfeed is ideal. The risk of allergy to peanuts can develop in children with or without eczema, although the latter may increase the risk.
Early Introduction of Peanut-based Products Can Help Reduce Peanut Allergy Risk in Children
Peanut allergy is becoming more prevalent among children in Western countries, with the UK recording approximately 13,000 new cases each year. This alarming condition can be fatal, and its prevalence can double within a decade. A group of researchers has discovered that introducing peanut-based products, such as peanut butter, to children between four and six months can reduce their risk of developing peanut allergy by 77%.
The study analyzed two large studies and concluded that peanut allergy usually develops between six and 12 months. Moreover, the earlier the introduction of peanut-based products, the more significant the impact on allergy prevention. The investigation, published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, shows that introducing peanuts at four to six months can prevent 10,000 babies from developing peanut allergy each year in the UK alone.
According to Graham Roberts, a professor of pediatric allergy and respiratory medicine at the University of Southampton, the findings present a real opportunity for preventative medicine. Gideon Lack, a professor of pediatric allergy at King’s College London, added that introducing peanuts very gradually and avoiding them for many years may have contributed to the recent increase in peanut allergy cases. Children with eczema are at greater risk of developing peanut allergy, and the risk is higher the more serious the eczema is.
The team recommends introducing peanut-based products at an early age to prevent the development of peanut allergy. The risk of allergy to this legume can develop in children with or without eczema. Parents should also consider introducing peanut-based products even if their child does not show any signs of eczema.
In conclusion, parents who want to reduce their child’s risk of developing peanut allergy should introduce peanut-based products between four and six months. This could prevent the development of peanut allergy in 10,000 babies each year in the UK, providing a real opportunity for preventative medicine.
Expert Calls for Changes in Guidelines on Introducing Peanut Foods to Babies
Mary Feeney, a clinical research dietitian at King’s College London and one of the authors of the study, believes that guidelines on introducing peanut foods to babies should be changed. She recommends introducing solid food, including the equivalent of a heaping teaspoon of peanut butter, three times a week while continuing to breastfeed. This approach has been successful in Israel, where the prevalence of peanut allergy in children is around a tenth of that seen in the UK.
Feeney points out that cultural and fear-related factors, as well as the belief that a child can either be exclusively breastfed or eat solids, may hinder the early introduction of peanut products in the UK.
Don’t miss interesting posts on Famousbio
