EAT Study - WWYD?

[LifeOfKate]

Hi All,

We have had an invitation in the post to join a weaning/allergy study, details here

Basically it is a study into the effects of early introduction of allergenic foods (from 3 months old). The control group would be told to carry on as per current advice (exclusive BF until 6 months), the experimental group would have allergenic foods (wheat, dairy etc) introduced from 3 months old.

The researchers seem to think that it is actually later weaning that increases the risk of allergies.

I'm not sure whether to entertain the thought of being involved in this study, so thought I would ask all you lovely people on MN, WWYD or what do you think?

I'm also posting this on the weaning topic.

We're on the standard arm of the study. DS is now 27 weeks and we have introduced dairy and wheat with no problem.

The study guidance says if you want to start weaning before 26 weeks then you can, just to avoid the allergenic foods (dairy, wheat, eggs, fish, sesame, peanuts). We're doing blw and DS had some fruit/veg before 6 months but it's much easier (and he eats more) now he can just share my food.

Hi,
I have signed up to mums net simply so I can post on this question.
Some of your views are so simplistic and some are completely wrong. Less than 10 years ago the guidelines were to wean at 17 weeks - so what is so different.
Me and my son are enrolled in the study and thankfully so are over 1000 more. It is of specific interest to me as my 4 year old daughter have allergies (wehat and diary) and severe ezcema. I dont just mean a bit of dry skin I mean no stop scratching, bandaged skin, sleepless nights, bathing at midnight to calm her down etc etc. There is little research into allergies and ezcema so I took wheat and diary away myself. She now has controlled ezcema and rarely uses steroid cream. If i could take it away completely I would do anything and if this study helps other families then it is worth it.
I exclusively bf her for 6 month, continues bf until 2 years and she never had any formula. So guidelines- whatever!!
I was put into the early weaning group - a little nervous as it goes against what I have done before. But I believe it is actually the safest way we could have introduced food. And as a b/f lover I still b/f for almost all feeds but ensure he has the specific amounts per week.
The governement guidelines actually say 6 month breatsfeeding not 6 month formula but how many can honestly say they do that. You wouldnt be eligible for the studyt anyway as you are giving a cows milk based substance.
The staff at the hospital are excellent and I am looking forward to the findings and having access to specialists in this area. As a parent who has watched their daughter suffer with ezcema and now eats a limited diet I would urge anyone to get involved. In this study or any other studies which will hopefully give us a better insight. I plan on breastfeeding my son for many months/years to come. But he will be exposed to food (which is has tested negative against).
Well done to all those have signed up and thankyou!! If you believe that ezcema and asthma are not important then you have not lived with it.

It's nteresting to see that this study is now being advertised in the banner ads at the top of MN and they also have a sticky thread promoting it.

I wonder if they are having trouble recruiting?

They are pushing for the last 200. There are over 1000 babies now enrolled. I think one of the main problems is the misconception that it will cause an allergy or digestive problems and also finding exclusively breastfed babies.

But it is so controlled and the initial food amounts are so small I actually think its a very safe way to introduce food into your babies diet. Most babies would not be exposed in such a safe environment, and have a dietician ready to speak to whenever needed.

I haven't read the entire thread but I have three children, one who had significant food intolerances and one with mild intolerances and one with significant intolerances and allergies. From what I have seen, I believe that the intolerances were indicated while I was pregnant, they definetly reacted when they were receiving the foods through my breastmilk and I believe that exclusion as long as possible can reduce the severity of reactions in the long term. As such, I would love to see research from the opposite view point to this one, exclusion as long as possible rather than early introduction.

Like MamaBear11111, I have registered simply to comment on this topic. My daughter is taking part in this study and at 9 months she is still BF well and loves her food. She started taking a small amount of solids from 15 weeks following allergy prick tests in St Thomas' hospital. As yet she has shown no signs of any allergies.

Being a mother may make you brilliant, hard-working and an expert on your own children, but that does not mean you are an expert in nutrition/allergies/pediatrics etc. Evidence based research needs to happen.

There is no point in arguing with most people that post their opinions instantaneously without researching or sometimes even reading the previous posts.

But, for those of you who are considering taking part it is a worthwhile study. In the very least go to the website www.eatstudy.co.uk/ and read for yourself. Phone them up and talk to them.

Make the decision for yourself.

Ladies, I'm hoping someone who has actually been on the study will notice this post .... DC3 is almost 4 months old. still has tongue thrust reflex. DS2 has multiple food allergies (and past episodes of anaphylaxis). I've been keenly waiting for the results to come out of this study, but they've not arrived yet. I'm anticipating something similar to the LEAP study results, so keep to start introducing foods early, instead of 6 month exclusive breastfeeding as I did with DS2.

My question is ... how did they define when to start introducing solids? Were you waiting for any signs of readiness or was it just at a given time, and be patient as they won't get much in just yet? Would love advice, please!

No news of any published results from this study, and there have been no preliminary results AFAIK.

www.eatstudy.co.uk/eat-study-info/

(Leap study was just about peanuts)

You could contact the study researchers direct, but they will probably not be able to advise individually.

Jury is still out, I think.

they presented the research (but not the results due to confidentiality reqs) at the allergy show earlier this year. expecting publication 2 months from talk (already passed) so hopefully any minute now. the way it was presented, i'm 90% they'll show early introduction reduces allergies....

Thanks, mayfairmumy.

The key point of interest is the difference between susceptible babies (the ones already showing signs of allergy or from families with strong heritable allergic tendencies) and non-susceptible babies.

The other point of interest would be to see if introducing solids had any impact on the length of time breastfeeding.

tiktok, I can't remember where i saw it, but there was definitely something published already about the length of time breastfeeding... i didn't read it though as that wasn't what i was focused on - i'm keener about risk reduction (we're in the susceptible group; epipen for older brother with multiple food allergies, plus DC3 showing signs of allergy since about 2 weeks old - as did DC2 (though thankfully DC3 is nowhere near as bad as DC2 was at that age). V.V. keen to do anything i can to reduce allergy risk for DC3.