Eating peanut butter PREVENTS allergies???

[Lovecat]

Apparently there's evidence now that eating it at an early age will provide protection against allergies??

This was on the BBC news headlines this morning but I had to go out before the story came on - looked it up online as it sounded so unlikely and I thought I'd misheard it! Link here

Interesting to see if it's true - but would you really offer your child for this trial when they already have allergy problems? Not sure I would....

Think its this Israeli study

" young Israeli infants less than one year of age who eat a median of 6g of peanut protein per week do not develop peanut allergy whereas Jewish infants in the United Kingdom who rigorously avoid peanut products have a rate of peanut allergy that is at least 10 times higher than in Israel. "

but the peanuts are treated differently there

" The peanuts in most of the locally produced peanut snacks in Israel are boiled in water for 30 min at 80°C (Local factories, personal communication), whereas most peanuts in the USA are dry-roasted at a much higher temperature of 170°C, which increases the allergenicity of the three major peanut proteins".

I don't know if the British study looks at boiled peanut or roasted peanut but I know which one I'd rather try.

If she is fine with them, then good, if she is not, bad then. As simple as that. With regards to the sugar and salt... check the labels, brands can vary quite a lot.

I read that because i had hayfever for past 4 years (hasn't turned up yet) that i can't eat peanuts or my baby will become peanut intolerant. (is that the right word) Allergic to peanuts.

Your last post was very interesting, Tatt. The rise in peanut allergy is really quite baffling. When I was at school in the 70s it was unheard of, as were many other allergies so prevalent today. What's interesting about modern allergies in general is that, in the 1970s (just to take one decade in time), children really did eat a load of crap. Yet they were healthy enough (and didn't have the same weight problems that many modern kids do).

The study being undertaken, as far as I understood it, involves 500 children, 11 months and older (can't remember the cut off point). Half will be given peanut products under strict laboratory surveillance, and the other half won't.

The results won't be collated until all the children in the study are five years old, so we've a while to wait yet.

My ds loves peanut butter and I gave it to him from weaning onwards. It's also very good for persistent nappy rash because it contains zinc.

peanut butter is actually a good source of protein. If your child is safe with nuts its quite possible to make your own www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A824410
and it will then only have as much salt as you choose to put in it.

There is also this study about feeding children items early www.foodnavigator.com/news/ng.asp?n=76169-food-allergy-premature-free-from

However there is this one saying that avoiding peanut in the mother's diet is important www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070503/pregnant_peanuts_070503/20070503?hub=Health

If the new study produces any dramatic result it could be terminated before the end for ethical reasons. But I wouldn't really expect that so it probably will be a long wait.

The rise in allergies is poorly studied so anything that adds to the level of knowledge is useful. Like this study suggesting pets are a good idea www.hsus.org/pets/pets_related_news_and_events/study_early_exposure_to_pets_may_reduce_allergies.html

and this one about fungal exposure

www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-04/uoc-eet043007.php

but any study needs to be duplicated before you can rely on it too heavily. Good excuse for having a dirty house though

If I wanted to introduce peanut butter early I think I'd be inclined to make my own boiling the peanuts instad of roasting them.

Maybe we should all have had more pets and dirtier houses!

sorry but the links that have underlining may not work, I've had this problem before and the underlining is usually only in the gaps.

we're doing this study with dd2 and it is actually for babies from 6months to one year [just weaned] who will then be monitored until they are five. After initial testing to see if they are allergic, and if found not to be they are then split into two groups. One has no peanuts until age 5, the other has approx 2tbsp of a peanut snack per week at home. All participants' parents will get phone calls every week to check everything is ok. If an allergy develops all involvement will stop. As dp mentioned we're doing this cos dd1 has allergies and we want to know if dd2 is the same, plus if it helps others thats great! Dd2 being tested this week...

Thanks again, Tat. I find this quite fascinating.

Interesting, Tatt. Having grown up in the Far East, I have to say I have never heard of a nut allergy until I moved to UK, where it seems common. Ds 7 mths has eczema. I have eaten peanut butter in pregnancy and he has had peanut butter as well. So far, seems ok.

So, little 7 month old dd2 has just been tested this morning for the LEAP study.

And she's allergic to dairy, eggs, peanuts, sesame. Back home with epi-pen, the lot. Likely to never grow out of the peanut allergy apparently.

Really about it tbh. I'm pleased we know early but really hoped that allergies weren't going to be an issue for her as well.

oh no aDad. I'm sorry.

I'm glad you've found out early. There's still a good chance she'll outgrow the egg and dairy though isn't there?

oh dear, adad, i'm sorry to hear that. how can they be so sure about the peanut allergy?

so does your dd1 (is she your first child) have allergies too aDad?

Thanks guys.

DP took her so I dont know but i think the peanut test was done by taking blood rather than skin prick. The others were skin prick.

DD1 is dairy and egg allergic, showing no signs of disappearing so far age 3 and a half. No problem with sesame, and we have never given her peanuts so dont know about that.

It's not the end of the world, just sinking in at the moment I guess.

well, it's still a shock isn't it. And you always hope they'll escape this sort of thing.

Dd's egg allergy didn't start going till around 5-6 years (dairy went first) so maybe your dd1's still got a bit of time to go.

Do they keep her in the study now and observe her?

no, study over I think, as they want children who dont have the peanut allergy to begin with to see if it develops.

Thanks foxinsocks - it's true it could still go with dd1, can't remember the percentage chance any more, but there was still a good chance of allergies going by age 5. Good to hear some success stories!

And very much no regrets about opting into the study. We now know all this, and have an epipen at least, should we ever need it.

yes, it's brilliant (studies like this). I actually feel a bit guilty about not helping with the 'outgrowing the egg allergy' one .

I wonder if it's worth getting dd1 checked for peanuts? Although, at least you'll always have the epipen around now!

Don't worry - it really is encouraging to hear tales of chidlren outgrowing them!

They were quite shocked that dd1 has never been tested for peanuts and yet has been tested and shown up as v allergic for other things. So she is now going to be tested at her next appointment. They seem to think it very likely that she is allergic to them.

apparently the peanut test was skin prick as well.

aw sorry to hear this aDad. It is possible they'll both grow out of the other allergies isn't it? Mine both grew out of everything except nut allergy, having followed a very puritanical and joyless diet, but they are now 8 and 5 and only nut free. It is a fag though, and a worry. But better to have confirmation. Thinking of you.

thanks for that zizou

It's sunk in now, and yes it's a pain but it's a small deal in the grand scheme of things. Lots to be grateful for...