Decline in Peanut Allergies in Young Children: Analysis of Landmark Study's Impact

Strategic Insights -

A landmark study 10 years ago suggested that feeding peanut products to young babies could reduce life-threatening allergies, and new research now shows that this practice has made a significant difference in the real world. After the guidance was first issued in 2015, the rate of peanut allergies in children ages 0 to 3 fell by more than 27%, and by more than 40% after the recommendations were expanded in 2017. According to Dr. David Hill, an allergist and researcher, about 60,000 children have avoided food allergies since 2015, including 40,000 children who otherwise would have developed peanut allergies.

Key Takeaways:

  • The rate of peanut allergies in children ages 0 to 3 fell by more than 27% after guidance for high-risk kids was first issued in 2015, and by more than 40% after the recommendations were expanded in 2017.
  • About 60,000 children have avoided food allergies since 2015, including 40,000 children who otherwise would have developed peanut allergies.
  • According to a study in the medical journal Pediatrics, the protection from peanut allergies persisted in about 70% of children into adolescence.
  • Only about 29% of pediatricians and 65% of allergists reported following the expanded guidance issued in 2017, surveys found.
  • Early introduction of peanuts to young children is crucial, with the current guidance calling for introducing peanuts and other major food allergens between four and six months, without prior screening or testing.
  • Parents should consult their pediatricians about any questions, with Dr. David Hill suggesting that "little tastes of peanut butter, milk-based yogurt, soy-based yogurts and tree butters" are good ways to allow the immune system exposure to these allergenic foods in a safe way.
  • Activate advocates for the 33 million people in the US with food allergies have welcomed signs that early introduction of peanut products is catching on.

Statistics:

  • The rate of peanut allergies in children ages 0 to 3 fell by more than 27% after guidance for high-risk kids was first issued in 2015.
  • The rate of peanut allergies in children ages 0 to 3 fell by more than 40% after the recommendations were expanded in 2017.
  • About 60,000 children have avoided food allergies since 2015 (previously reported as 80,000).
  • About 40,000 children who otherwise would have developed peanut allergies were spared after doctors began recommending introducing peanuts to babies.
  • More than 2% of children are affected by peanut allergy.

Sources:

  • Gideon Lack, King's College London, published the LEAP trial in 2015.
  • Dr. David Hill, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and colleagues analyzed electronic health records from dozens of pediatric practices to track diagnoses of food allergies in young children.
  • The current guidance, updated in 2021, calls for introducing peanuts and other major food allergens between four and six months, without prior screening or testing.
  • Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) is a nonprofit group advocating for people with food allergies.
  • Dr. Ruchi Gupta, Northwestern University, led a commentary that accompanied the study, noting that the data for the analysis came from a subset of participating practice sites and may not represent the entire US pediatric population.