PARIS: Including peanuts in children's diets from an early age could help ward off legume allergies, which can be fatal and affect young people around the world, a new study published on Friday said. obtained from the study.
Researchers found that introducing peanut products to infants and toddlers and gradually increasing the exposure led to greater tolerance to the common allergen.
The peer-reviewed study, published in The Lancet, included 146 peanut-allergic children aged over two and a half years, ages zero to three.
96 of the group were given peanut protein powder every day, with the dosage increasing to the equivalent of six peanuts, respectively. Other kids got a placebo of oat flour.
Twenty children who received peanut powder showed allergic remission, meaning no allergic reaction occurred six months after therapy ended.
One child in the placebo group showed remission.
After six months of treatment, relapsed children can tolerate a dose equivalent to 16 peanuts.
An additional 20 children who received peanut powder were considered 'desensitised', meaning they had a high allergy threshold but were not considered to be in remission.
These children can tolerate a dose of between six and 12 peanuts for six months after treatment ends.
The youngest children in the study experienced remission most often, and the best results were in children younger than 12 months.
"Intervention very early may provide the best opportunity to achieve remission", said co-author Stacy Jones.
'too much of a burden'
According to the study, peanut allergies affect up to two percent of children in Western countries and can last a lifetime.
Affected children should avoid eating peanuts and have self-injectable adrenaline available to fight off allergic bouts, which can be fatal if accidentally exposed.
Exposure can also occur when a child hugs someone who has just eaten peanuts.
"There are no treatment options, resulting in a substantial burden on children with allergies and their caregivers to avoid accidental exposure," said co-author Wesley Burke.
"In severe cases, this can restrict the freedom of peanut-allergic children, especially when it comes to navigating daycare or schools and public places where access to a safe diet is at risk."
Previous studies have given similar results but the length of the latest studies makes it unique.
Although this provides important results, it may not reflect the behavior of children's bodies in real-world situations.
The study was conducted under close medical supervision, and adrenaline injections were administered to 21 children during the trial.