Does your child have a severe peanut allergy? Well you may be in luck. Children who suffer from peanut allergies may soon be able to eat the nuts as part of their regular diet.
Australian research may help treat peanut allergies
Australian researchers from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute have made an incredible breakthrough when it comes to peanut allergies. Their long-term medical trial treated the allergy with experimental immunotherapy, which seemed to increase tolerance to peanuts.
The study involved 48 children who were taking either a probiotic alongside a small dose of peanut protein or a placebo. They did this daily for a period of 18 months. At the end of this initial trial 82% of the children receiving the probiotic and peanut oral immunotherapy were tolerant to peanuts.
The researchers then followed up with the children 4 years later and found 70% still had a tolerance to peanuts. Lead researcher, professor Mimi Tang, said the results were very exciting and could be live changing for children with a peanut allergy.
“We had children who came into the study allergic to peanuts. They had to avoid peanuts in their diet and be very vigilant around that. This meant that they carryed a lot of anxiety,” Professor Tang said.
If these results are confirmed by larger clinical studies then we may have an effective treatment for food allergies among children. Professor Tang confirmed on the Today show this morning that we’re still many years away from the community accessing this potential treatment. However, this proof of concept is a good start.
If you do suffer from a peanut allergy don’t fret. There are still many different nut spreads you can have to start your day. Find out what they are in House Call Doctor’s the spread on nut butters article.