(MENAFN) A new study published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology reveals that the introduction of peanut products to babies at an early age could reduce peanut allergy incidences by up to 77 per cent. According to researchers, parents have a "clear window of opportunity" to introduce allergens into their baby's diet, particularly when they are between four and six months old.
The study provides a strong case for reviewing global guidelines that currently recommend introducing solid foods to babies from six months of age. Waiting to introduce peanut products until a child is a year old could lead to only a third of allergy incidences reducing, the study suggests.
The research was conducted by Graham Roberts from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Southampton Biomedical Research Centre and the University of Southampton. Roberts said that the study shows that applying simple, low-cost, and safe interventions to the whole population could be an effective preventive public health strategy that could deliver vast benefits for future generations.
The increasing number of peanut allergies in children has become a concern for many health organisations. Peanut allergy affects approximately two per cent or one in 50 children in the UK, according to Allergy UK, and the incidence has been on the rise in recent decades. The majority of peanut allergies have already developed by the time a child turns one year old.
While there are challenges to overcome because parental fear of early introduction has been prevalent over many decades, Roberts said that numerous studies have shown that introducing foods from three to four months of age can significantly reduce the chances of developing peanut allergy and other food allergies. The study's findings suggest that introducing peanut products to babies at an early age could be a cost-effective preventive strategy for reducing peanut allergy incidences in future generations.
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