Children with mild peanut sensitivity may be able to overcome allergies by increasing the amount of peanut butter purchased in storage, new research suggests.
According to a report published in NEJM evidence, all 32 children in the study who received 18 months of immunotherapy consumed the equivalent of three tablespoons of peanut butter without experiencing a response. It’s done.
Parents were advised that this strategy should only be followed under the supervision of allergists, the researchers warned.
According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, 1% to 2% of American children and adults have peanut allergies.
To date, researchers have focused on children with severe allergies so that the smallest bits of peanuts can cause dangerous reactions, and the study’s lead author, Dr. Scott Schicheller, pediatrics. said Dr. Scott Schicheller, professor and director of the Institute for Elliott and Roslyn Jaffe Food Allergy. At Icahn School of Medicine on Mount Sinai in New York City.
“We thought that if we could target children who can consume at least half of the peanuts in a treatment that is easy to use, we might be able to treat peanuts like regular food,” he said. said. “I was surprised at how successful we were.”
Sicherer urged parents not to try their own treatment, adding that “you should talk to an allergist about the process.”
A total of 73 children, ages 4 to 14, were originally involved in the trial. It was sponsored and funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Of the 73, 38 were randomly assigned to receive immunotherapy, while the other 35 continued to avoid peanut protein.
Without experiencing a response, children worth half of peanuts were able to participate in the study. Those who were equivalent to more than 20 peanuts were excluded.
By the end of the trial, six children in the immunotherapy group and five in the control group had been eliminated, leaving 32 in the immunotherapy group and 30 in the group that continued to avoid peanuts.
In the treatment group, children were started with one teaspoon of peanut butter and gradually increased every 8 weeks. Once the kids arrived at ½ tsp peanut butter, they were allowed to replace other foods containing peanut protein, such as candies, for the peanut butter.
An increase in peanut protein occurred only when the child was caring for an allergist, in case of a response.
I was told that if the kids could eat a tablespoon of peanut butter every day, they wouldn’t need to consume it every day, but they should consume two glasses a week.
None of the children in the immunotherapy group responded severely when they needed a shot of epinephrine when consuming peanut protein at home, and needed medication during their visit to the research site.
The next part of this study was designed to determine whether peanut resistance obtained by 32 children is permanent. Thirty children chose to continue the study at that point.
They were asked to refrain from eating peanut protein for eight weeks. It was then tested to see if it was still acceptable to be worth three tablespoons of peanut butter. Of the 30 children, 26 passed the test, and researchers concluded that immunotherapy could help overcome allergies to peanut protein.
“It was a very simple process and it was very successful,” Schcheller said. “It could be a game changer for families and children.”
While children need to be followed for a long period of time to validate their results, “the ability to induce food resistance is extremely exciting,” says Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Associate Program Director of Allergy and New York City. Immunology of Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University.
“Now these kids don’t need to carry an Epipen with them,” he said. “They don’t have to avoid food with peanuts. They’re not allergic to life.”
Often, when a child develops a peanut allergy, it has a huge impact on families, Brooks said.
“The kids stop going to birthday parties, and many stop going out to eat with their families. The fear keeps them away from summer camp and leaves to visit friends for the holidays.” he said.
Brooks was also pleased that the researchers had published the protocol.
“With a standardized protocol, more practices can use it to help patients,” he said. “It may not be an all-patient choice, but it’s another tool in our toolbox.”
He repeatedly advised his parents not to do the immunotherapy protocol themselves.
“There’s always a risk whenever we put on a food challenge that could lead to serious, life-threatening reactions,” he said. “Therefore, this should only be done under the supervision of allergies.”
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