And now, a new study in the New England Journal of Medicine has found that surprisingly enough, giving peanuts to babies who are least 4 months old might actually help
prevent peanut allergies from forming.
But the LEAP trial found that exposing at - risk kids to peanuts regularly beginning in infancy actually
prevented peanut allergies by the time they reached age 5, Sicherer said.
«We're saying that if you introduce peanuts early, you're going to have a very good chance
of preventing peanut allergy,» says Alkis Togias, an allergist at NIAID in Bethesda, Md..
Israeli children eat more peanut products each month and start eating peanut products at a much younger age, so that study postulated that feeding children peanuts earlier may
prevent peanut allergies from developing.
But the LEAP trial found that exposing at - risk kids to peanuts regularly beginning in infancy actually
prevented peanut allergies by the time they reached age 5, Sicherer said.
National Institutes of Health — Study finds peanut consumption in infancy prevents peanut allergy
Times and guidelines are changing Once upon a time expecting mothers were advised to not eat allergenic foods like peanuts during their pregnancy in hopes that it would
prevent a peanut allergy for baby.
It used to be believed that the best way to
prevent peanut allergies was to avoid exposing children to any peanut - containing products until age three.
Peanuts and straight peanut butter are a choking hazard for infants, doctors say, but a bit of watered - down puree of peanut butter, starting at around 6 - months - old, can help
prevent peanut allergies.
Respondents were asked about their willingness to try early peanut introduction to
prevent peanut allergies and their familiarity with the guidelines.
Both served on the NIH's expert panel, which worked to update these clinical guidelines to
prevent peanut allergy.
«But we're still working on helping parents and pediatricians understand how important the guidelines are for
preventing peanut allergies.»
«The new guidelines are a breakthrough for
preventing peanut allergy,» Chan said.
Once upon a time expecting mothers were advised to not eat allergenic foods like peanuts during their pregnancy in hopes that it would
prevent a peanut allergy for baby.
Evidence suggests that doing so could help
prevent peanut allergies.
In 2015, the Learning Early About Peanut Allergy (LEAP) study found that giving peanut - containing foods early to infants may
prevent peanut allergy.
«The new guidelines are a breakthrough for
preventing peanut allergy,» says allergist Edmond Chan, MD, ACAAI member and co-author.
«But we're still working on helping parents and pediatricians understand how important the guidelines are for
preventing peanut allergies.
Respondents were asked about their willingness to try early peanut introduction to
prevent peanut allergies and their familiarity with the guidelines.
These guidelines aim to
prevent peanut allergies, not treat them, Bird says.
Although recent findings have suggested that early exposure to peanuts can help
prevent peanut allergy, the only effective therapy currently available for existing cases remains avoidance.
«But we're still working on helping parents and pediatricians understand how important the guidelines are for
preventing peanut allergies.»
«The new guidelines are a breakthrough for
preventing peanut allergy,» Chan said.
A new study holds out the possibility that peanuts themselves may
prevent peanut allergies.
This new work suggests that
preventing peanut allergies may be a possibility in the near future.