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Babies Who Eat Peanuts Early May Avoid Allergy

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By Brenda Goodman, MA -
WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Hansa D. Bhargava, MD -

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Feb. 23, 2015 -- Life-threatening peanut allergies have mysteriously been - on the rise in the past decade, with little hope for a cure.

But a groundbreaking new study may offer a way to stem that rise, while - another may offer some hope for those who are already allergic.

Parents have been told for years to avoid giving foods containing peanuts - to babies for fear of triggering an allergy. Now research shows the opposite - is true: Feeding babies snacks made with peanuts before their first birthday - appears to prevent that from happening.

The study is published in the New England Journal of Medicine, and - it was presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, - Asthma and Immunology in Houston. It found that among children at high - risk for getting peanut allergies, eating peanut snacks by 11 months of - age and continuing to eat them at least three times a week until age 5 - cut their chances of becoming allergic by more than 80% compared to kids - who avoided peanuts. Those at high risk were already allergic to egg, they - had the skin condition eczema, or - both.

Overall, about 3% of kids who ate peanut butter or peanut snacks before - their first birthday got an allergy, compared to about 17% of kids who - didn’t eat them.

“I think this study is an astounding and groundbreaking study, really,” - says Katie Allen, MD, PhD. She's the director of the Center for Food and - Allergy Research at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Melbourne, - Australia. Allen was not involved in the research.

Experts say the research should shift thinking about how kids develop - food allergies, and it should change the guidance doctors give to - parents.

Meanwhile, for children and adults who are already allergic to peanuts, - another study presented at the same meeting held out hope of a treatment.

A new skin patch called Viaskin allowed people with peanut allergies to - eat tiny amounts of peanuts after they wore it for a year.

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A Change in Guidelines?

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Allergies to peanuts and other foods are on the rise. In the U.S., more - than 2% of people react to peanuts, a 400% increase since 1997. And reactions - to peanuts and other tree nuts can be especially severe. Nuts are the main - reason people get a life-threatening problem called anaphylaxis.

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