Could A Spoonful Of Peanut Butter A Day Keep Allergies Away? New Study Says Yes!

A new study has found that children with a certain type of peanut allergy may benefit from gradually increasing their exposure to peanut butter, potentially reducing their allergic reactions over time. The research, led by Dr. Scott Sicherer from Mount Sinai in New York City, offers a promising approach for treating peanut allergies in children who can already tolerate small amounts of peanuts.

Peanut Allergy

Peanut allergies can range in severity. Some people experience severe reactions from just a tiny trace of peanuts, a condition known as a "low-threshold" peanut allergy. However, others have a "high-threshold" allergy, meaning they can tolerate small amounts—such as half a peanut—before showing symptoms. The study focused on children with high-threshold peanut allergy.

Dr. Sicherer and his team explored whether a gradual increase in peanut consumption could help children build tolerance. "Our study results suggest a safe, inexpensive, and effective way for allergists to treat children with high-threshold peanut allergies," Sicherer said. He believes this approach could be applied to other food allergies in the future.

Study Details and Methods

The study, funded by the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, was published in NEJM Evidence. It involved 73 children between the ages of 4 and 14, all diagnosed with high-threshold peanut allergy. The children were divided into two groups:

Children in the peanut-exposure group started with just 1/8 teaspoon of peanut butter per day. Every eight weeks, their dosage was increased under medical supervision. By the end of 18 months, these children were consuming one tablespoon of peanut butter daily or an equivalent amount of another peanut product.

Dr. Julie Wang, co-senior author of the study, explained the reasoning behind this approach. "Previous research showed that more than half of people with peanut allergy can tolerate half a peanut or more. We thought this group might benefit from a different approach to peanut immunotherapy," she said.

Study Results: Increased Tolerance of PeanutsThe findings were striking. At the end of the study, the children who had been consuming peanut butter underwent a medically supervised test to see if they could tolerate up to three tablespoons of peanut butter. All 32 children in this group successfully tolerated the amount.

In contrast, only three of the 30 children in the peanut-avoidance group could consume the same amount without experiencing allergic reactions. This suggests that controlled exposure to peanuts can help children with high-threshold allergies develop tolerance over time.

Another crucial finding was the safety of the approach. Only one child in the peanut ingestion group needed an epinephrine shot (commonly known as an "EpiPen") during the trial, and no severe reactions occurred.

Long-Term Benefits of Peanut Exposure TherapyTo test if the benefits lasted, children in the peanut ingestion group followed a specific regimen. For four months, they continued eating at least two tablespoons of peanut butter per week. Then, they avoided peanuts entirely for two months. When they reintroduced peanuts, nearly all—26 out of 30 children—still tolerated peanut butter without reactions.

Overall, 68.4 per cent of the children in the peanut-exposure group developed long-term tolerance, meaning they could eat peanuts without experiencing allergic symptoms even after a break from exposure.

What This Means for Allergy Treatment

Dr. Sicherer emphasized the importance of these results. "This study is a major step forward in personalizing food allergy treatments," he said. "My hope is that these findings will change how we treat peanut allergies and inspire further research on this approach for other food allergies."

Currently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved treatments like injectable biologics and controlled oral peanut immunotherapy for severe peanut allergies. However, for children with high-threshold peanut allergies, this new study suggests that a simpler, cost-effective solution—using store-bought peanut butter under medical guidance—may be highly effective.

The Future of Food Allergy TreatmentThe study opens the door for more research into personalized allergy treatments. Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, doctors may soon be able to tailor treatments based on each child's tolerance level.

As research continues, parents and allergists may have new tools to help children with peanut allergies safely build tolerance, potentially reducing the risk of severe reactions in the future.

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