Early Introduction Of "dangerous" Foods Into A Child's Diet Reduces The Risk Of Food Allergies

2023 Author: Abraham Higgins | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-07-31 03:44

Early introduction of "dangerous" foods into a child's diet reduces the risk of food allergies

The new guidance on food allergy prevention continues to liberalize the introduction of highly allergic foods. For example, the authors believe there is compelling evidence to prevent the development of peanut allergy in high-risk children with targeted early introduction of peanuts from 4 months of age.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics, based on a detailed review of all available data on this topic, has published updated guidance on the prevention of food allergies and other allergic conditions.

The new leadership continues to liberalize the introduction of highly allergic foods. The authors of the report did not find convincing evidence that the late introduction of allergenic foods into the diet helps prevent food allergies. In contrast, there is compelling evidence to prevent the development of peanut allergy in high-risk children (having a close relative with a history of allergic disease) with targeted early introduction of peanuts from 4 months.

In 2000, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended postponing the introduction of cow's milk until one year old, eggs up to 2 years, peanuts, hazelnuts and fish up to 3 years. A 2008 report indicated that there is no conclusive evidence that delaying the introduction of allergenic foods prevents food allergies. But there were no specific guidelines regarding the age at which these products should be introduced.

The current recommendations draw heavily on the Learning Early About Peanut (LEAP) study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. According to the results, children with a high risk of developing peanut allergy who were injected with peanuts at the age of 4 to 6 months had a significantly lower risk of developing a peanut allergy than children who waited up to 5 years (1.9% versus 13.7 %, respectively).

Some of the evidence is based on the Enquiring About Tolerance (EAT) study, also published in the New England Journal of Medicine, in which 6 allergenic foods were randomly assigned to 1303 3-month-old babies - peanuts, boiled eggs, cow's milk, sesame seeds, whitefish and wheat … One group of children immediately began to introduce them into the diet, and the second group - from 6 months. The team then assessed whether these children developed food allergies between ages 1 and 3.

Only 40% of parents were able to fulfill all the conditions recommended by the study protocol. Therefore, when examining the data of all participating children, no differences were found in the rates of food allergy. Whereas in the group of children with executive parents, there was a significant reduction in peanut and egg allergies.

The fact is that in the gastrointestinal tract there is a unique set of cells of the immune system that absorb allergenic proteins and become tolerant to them.

“There is no reason to delay children from eating foods that are considered allergens, such as peanuts, eggs or fish. These foods can be added to the diet early, just like foods that are not common allergens such as rice, fruits or vegetables,”noted Dr. Scott Sicherer, co-author of the report.

The report also looks at whether breastfeeding protects against eczema, shortness of breath, asthma and food allergies.

The authors concluded that exclusive breastfeeding for the first three to four months of life protects against eczema. Breastfeeding after this age, even if not exclusive, protects against shortness of breath in the first two years of life, and against asthma for the first five years and even later. However, it cannot be concluded from the available information about whether breastfeeding affects the prevention of food allergies.

No evidence has been found that avoiding allergenic foods during pregnancy or breastfeeding helps prevent allergic conditions and the use of special hydrolyzed formulas, even in high-risk children.

Either way, most children are not at high risk for allergies. The authors of the report explain that the same mechanism that protects children at high risk will also protect children with low or standard risk of developing food allergies.