Alternative Health Blog

Following the bouncing ball of nutrition research can make you a bit woozy at times. One current example is the scientific position on whether an expectant mother and nursing mother should eat peanuts or not to prevent peanut allergies in children. A new study suggests “early introduction” of peanuts to infants might be the best way to avoid a potentially dangerous peanut allergy.

Researchers at King’s College London conducted this newest study, publishing their findings in the November issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Dr. George Du Toit and colleagues evaluated the dietary histories and peanut allergy patterns of more than 5,600 Jewish children from Israel compared to more than 5,100 Jewish children from the United Kingdom. They found children in the UK were ten times more likely to develop a peanut allergy compared to the kids in Israel.

What the scientists concluded is the difference is “not accounted for by differences in social class, genetic background or peanut allergenicity.” What was indeed different is when the peanut is introduced by Israeli mothers compared to UK moms. Seven of 10 infants in Israel eat peanuts by nine months old compared to just 10 percent of British children. 

Moreover, the King’s College researchers reported that Israeli children between eight and 14 months consume 7.1 grams of peanut protein per month, on average, while UK children don’t consume enough protein collectively to register a number of grams.

It is important to note that the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology issued a written statement in response to the study. The academy’s Adverse Reactions to Foods Committee commented that while the study “provides optimism for prevention of peanut allergy in the future, randomized, controlled trials are needed to verify that early introduction of peanut is indeed effective.”

Bob Condor blogs for Alternative Health Journal every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.