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Maternal consumption of peanut during pregnancy is associated with peanut sensitization in atopic infants

Scott H Sicherer1, Robert A Wood, Donald Stablein

  • 1Jaffe Food Allergy Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA. scott.sicherer@mssm.edu

The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
|November 2, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Maternal peanut consumption during pregnancy is linked to higher peanut sensitization in infants with milk or egg allergies. This finding highlights a significant association for early peanut allergy risk factors.

Area of Science:

  • Allergy and Immunology
  • Pediatric Allergy
  • Environmental Health

Background:

  • Peanut allergy is a severe, lifelong, and prevalent condition.
  • Infants with milk or egg allergies are a vulnerable population for developing other food allergies.
  • Early identification of sensitization risk factors is crucial for prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify factors associated with peanut sensitization in infants.
  • To investigate the role of maternal dietary habits in peanut sensitization.
  • To determine predictors of elevated peanut-specific IgE levels in high-risk infants.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 503 infants (3-15 months) with suspected milk or egg allergy was evaluated.
  • Peanut-specific IgE levels ≥5 kU(A)/L were used to indicate likely peanut allergy.
  • Multivariate analysis assessed clinical, laboratory, and demographic factors, including maternal diet.

Main Results:

  • 27.8% of infants exhibited peanut sensitization (IgE ≥5 kU(A)/L).
  • Frequent maternal peanut consumption during pregnancy was a significant predictor (OR, 2.9).
  • Higher IgE levels to milk and egg, male sex, and nonwhite race were also associated with peanut sensitization.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal peanut intake during pregnancy is strongly associated with peanut sensitization in infants with milk/egg allergies.
  • This association was particularly pronounced in infants never breast-fed.
  • Findings suggest maternal diet during pregnancy may influence infant peanut allergy risk.
Abstract

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