New Research: Is Early Peanut Introduction Better for Allergies?
Despite this year's revised AAP recommendations on introducing common allergens foods to infants, many parents and pediatricians prefer to hold off on feeding newly weaned babies foods that are seen as particularly allergenic. Peanuts are among the foods parents in the United States are most apt to wait on (other common infant feeding recommendations delay citrus, eggs, shellfish, tree nuts, or eggs until one year or more).
However, a new population-based study comparing infants in the United Kingdom and Israel raises questions about whether early introduction to peanuts might not in fact have a protective effect against food allergies. Noting that cultures in which infants eat peanuts early and frequently are said to have lower rates of peanut allergy, the researchers received questionnaires from approximately 8600 schoolchildren in the two countries. Children with a reported history of peanut allergy were screened further by medical practitioners.
After controlling for history of other atopic disorders, food allergies, and social class, researchers found that British children were about ten times more likely to have a peanut allergy (about 1.85% in the UK as opposed to 0.17% in Israel). Over two-thirds of Israeli children were eating peanuts by the age of nine months, as compared to 10% of British children, and peanuts made up a much larger portion of the Israeli infants' diet.
So does this mean that, if you have a baby, you should load up that spoon with peanut butter? This is one more piece of evidence in favor of the AAP's recent shift away from delaying allergenic solids, but as with most studies, this one shouldn't be considered conclusive. Further longitudinal studies are underway to determine whether countries that recommend delaying the introduction of peanuts should keep that recommendation or change it to favor early introduction. And if your doctor recommends waiting until a certain age before giving your child certain foods, don't alter that schedule without talking to your doctor, especially if there's a history of food allergies in your family.
Source: Du Toit, George, et al.. "Early consumption of peanuts in infancy is associated with a low prevalence of peanut allergy." Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Nov. 2008. 122(5): 978-84. 5 Nov. 2008.
Comments
I am a 47 year old female who for the past seven years have suffered with horrible wheezing and a distressing cough. my doctor misdiagnosed me as asthmatic even though six years of the most commonly used asthma meds were not helpful.I ended up on life support as I stopped breathing.only then was ct scan results( the third one )was accepted and the infection identified and surgically suctioned out (psuedomonas infection). A brief picture,I still cough and wheeze especially when I used milk in my tea of which I drink a lot. I used to buy 2% milk but 5 years ago I switch to homo 3.25% as I would get severe cramps with 2% milk . Now I cough uncontrollably I get really phlemy I wheeze , and find it really difficult to breath. It is as if I am being garrotted around my throat but on the inside. My doctor refuses to explore other options. I suspect the milk. My question is how is it you did not mention milk allergy symtoms for adults. I would appreciate any info as I am frustrated. I have bad doctors.
Wheezing can be an allergy symptom, though it is indeed more associated with asthma. The bottom line is that if your doctor isn’t willing to listen to you, you need to change doctors. Does your insurance allow you to refer yourself to a specialist? If so, going straight to an allergist may get you the care you need.
It’s hard not to get frustrated by the conflicting advice. Like so many parents, we followed our pediatrician’s advice and purposefully held off on giving our sons PB till the age of 3. Now, one has an allergy to peanuts. I am hoping for a treatment to be available in the next decade. In the meantime, I am becoming very proficient at baking!