What if the solution to not being allergic to peanuts was to be exposed to them from a very young age? This is what a study suggests, the results of which were published in the journal NEJM Evidence.
Babies who eat peanut butter have fewer allergies
This work highlights the results of three clinical trials. In the first, the 640 young participants were divided into two groups: those who regularly ate peanut butter until the age of five and those who avoided this product. Thus, researchers observed that early exposure to peanuts led to an 81% reduction in the risk of peanut allergy by age five.
In the second clinical trial, the same children participated. They had to avoid peanuts between the ages of 5 and 6 years old. Results: Most babies who had been exposed to peanuts until age 5 did not have allergies at age 6.
Finally, the third study selected 508 children from the 640 who participated in the two previous trials. The average age then was 13 years old. Of these, 255 had early exposure to peanuts and another 253 had avoided them. They were exposed to peanuts, under medical supervision. Thus, the researchers were able to measure that the risk of developing an allergy in adolescence was reduced by 71% if peanut consumption started early and was regular until the age of 5.
The researchers point out that these results were also valid when the children no longer ate peanut products for a long period of time. This reinforces their conclusions: regular consumption of peanuts before five years reduces the risk of allergy to this product subsequently, regardless of subsequent consumption after five years.
Integrate peanuts into the baby’s diet “as early as possible”
“Parents can be told “the sooner the better”, especially in babies with eczema“, explains Gideon Lackone of the authors of the study, because these infants would have a higher risk of developing food allergies. However, the child must be developmentally and neurologically ready to eat solid foods and be able to coordinate chewing and swallowing without the risk of choking. Most babies will be able to start weaning between four and six months, but each baby is an individual and should be assessed individually.”
Gideon Lack recommends giving peanut foods in soft puree form to make swallowing easier and reduce the risk of choking. “We do not recommend introducing solids before the age of three months.”, he insists.
In France, 25 to 30% of the general population has an allergy, whether food, air, drug or venom, depending on health insurance which indicates that their frequency has continued to increase in recent years.
