Peanut allergies have plunged 43% in 8 years. Here’s how it was accomplished
A groundbreaking study from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) has revealed a remarkable 43% decrease in peanut allergies among children over the last eight years. This achievement is attributed to a shift in pediatric feeding guidelines, which now recommend introducing allergenic foods early in a child's diet. The research compared peanut and food allergy rates before and after the 2017 guideline change, showing a significant reduction in diagnoses.
Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez, a pediatrician at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, emphasized the life-saving potential of this approach, stating, "This represents the prevention of a potentially deadly, life-changing diagnosis."
The study's findings challenge long-standing medical advice that advised parents to delay introducing allergenic foods to protect children from developing allergies. This advice was called into question in 2015 with the LEAP trial, a landmark randomized trial. The trial found that high-risk babies who started eating peanuts early and continued this practice through childhood had an 80% lower risk of developing a peanut allergy by age 5 compared to those who avoided peanuts.
This new understanding of early food introduction has the potential to significantly reduce the prevalence of food allergies, a condition that can have severe and sometimes life-threatening consequences. The study's authors and medical professionals are now advocating for the widespread adoption of these updated guidelines to ensure that more children can enjoy a diverse and healthy diet without the fear of allergic reactions.
