New Research Shows 60,000 Kids Avoid Peanut Allergies

A new study reveals that approximately 60,000 children have successfully avoided developing peanut allergies due to early introduction of peanuts during infancy. This significant finding comes a decade after groundbreaking recommendations emerged, suggesting that feeding peanut products to infants as early as four months can help prevent life-threatening allergies. The research, led by Dr. David Hill, an allergist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, was published in the medical journal Pediatrics on March 15, 2024.

Dr. Hill and his team analyzed electronic health records from numerous pediatric practices, tracking food allergy diagnoses in children before and after the introduction of new guidelines issued in 2015. “I can actually come to you today and say there are less kids with food allergies today than there would have been if we hadn’t implemented this public health effort,” Hill stated.

The findings indicate that peanut allergies among children aged 0 to 3 years decreased by more than 27% after initial guidance was issued in 2015, with a further decline of over 40% following expanded recommendations in 2017. Despite this progress, the overall increase in food allergies among children in the United States continues, with about 8% of children now affected, including over 2% with a peanut allergy.

Peanut allergies occur when the immune system erroneously identifies proteins in peanuts as harmful, leading to allergic reactions that can include hives, respiratory issues, and potentially life-threatening anaphylaxis. For many years, medical advice suggested delaying the introduction of peanuts and other allergenic foods until children were at least three years old. This practice shifted dramatically following the Learning Early About Peanut Allergy (LEAP) trial, led by Gideon Lack from King’s College London, which demonstrated that early introduction of peanut products could reduce the risk of developing such allergies by more than 80%. Subsequent analyses indicated that around 70% of children maintained this protection into adolescence.

The implementation of these new guidelines has faced challenges. Surveys indicated that only about 29% of pediatricians and 65% of allergists adhered to the expanded recommendations from 2017. Confusion regarding the best practices for introducing peanuts early in life contributed to this delay. A commentary accompanying the study, led by Dr. Ruchi Gupta, a child allergy expert at Northwestern University, pointed out that the data analyzed may not reflect the entire U.S. pediatric population.

Despite these hurdles, the research provides encouraging evidence that early introduction of peanut products is gaining traction and may have a measurable impact on reducing peanut allergies. Advocates for the estimated 33 million individuals in the U.S. with food allergies have welcomed these findings. “This research reinforces what we already know and underscores a meaningful opportunity to reduce the incidence and prevalence of peanut allergy nationwide,” noted Sung Poblete, chief executive of the nonprofit group Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE).

The study reiterates the current guidelines updated in 2021, which recommend introducing peanuts and other major food allergens between four and six months of age, without the need for prior screening or testing. Dr. Hill advises parents to consult their pediatricians for any questions, emphasizing that even small amounts of allergenic foods can safely expose the immune system. “Little tastes of peanut butter, milk-based yogurt, soy-based yogurts, and tree nut butters are good ways to allow safe exposure,” he suggested.

Tiffany Leon, a registered dietician from Maryland and director at FARE, was proactive in introducing peanuts and other allergens to her own children, James, aged 4, and Cameron, aged 2. Initially, her mother was surprised by the advice to introduce these foods before the age of three. Leon clarified the shift in scientific understanding: “As a dietician, I practice evidence-based recommendations. So when someone told me, ‘This is how it’s done now, these are the new guidelines,’ I just thought, OK, well, this is what we’re going to do.”

The findings of this study highlight the importance of adapting medical practices to evolving evidence, ultimately aiming to protect young children from developing peanut allergies. The research not only underscores the efficacy of early allergen introduction but also aims to foster greater awareness and adherence to guidelines among healthcare providers and parents alike.