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Early consumption of peanuts in infancy is associated with a low prevalence of peanut allergy

George Du Toit1, Yitzhak Katz, Peter Sasieni

  • 1King's College London, MRC and Asthma UK Centre in Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, Division of Asthma, Allergy and Lung Biology, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.

The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
|November 13, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Peanut allergy (PA) is 10 times more common in UK Jewish children than in Israeli Jewish children. Early introduction of peanuts in infancy may prevent PA, contrary to current avoidance guidelines.

Area of Science:

  • Allergy and Immunology
  • Pediatrics
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Peanut allergy (PA) prevalence is rising globally, despite avoidance guidelines in infancy.
  • Current guidelines in the UK, Australia, and North America recommend peanut avoidance in early life.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine and compare the prevalence of PA in UK and Israeli Jewish children.
  • To investigate the association between PA and infant/maternal peanut consumption patterns.

Main Methods:

  • Clinically validated questionnaires assessed PA prevalence in 5171 UK and 5615 Israeli schoolchildren.
  • A second questionnaire evaluated peanut consumption and weaning practices in 77 UK and 99 Israeli infants.

Main Results:

  • PA prevalence was significantly higher in the UK (1.85%) compared to Israel (0.17%).
  • UK children had a 9.8-fold increased risk of PA compared to Israeli children, even after accounting for atopy.
  • Israeli infants consumed significantly more peanut protein earlier and more frequently than UK infants, who avoided peanuts.

Conclusions:

  • UK Jewish children exhibit a 10-fold higher prevalence of PA than their Israeli counterparts.
  • This disparity is not explained by atopy, socioeconomic factors, genetics, or allergenicity.
  • Findings suggest early infant peanut introduction, as practiced in Israel, may be a strategy to prevent PA development.
Abstract

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