Peanut treatment success revealed

Thursday January 30th, 2014

An immunotherapy treatment can successfully help protect children from the worst effects of peanut allergy, British doctors report today.

Six months of treatment led to children being able to consume up to five nuts a day safely, according to the Cambridge, UK, researchers.

The treatment involves children taking increasing amounts of peanut protein over six months.

According to the report in The Lancet, more than 84% of children were able to eat peanuts after the treatment.

During the research children taking the treatment were compared with others who continued simply to avoid peanuts. Some 99 children took part.

Researcher Dr Andrew Clark, from Cambridge University Hospitals, said: "This treatment allowed children with all severities of peanut allergy to eat large quantities of peanuts, well above the levels found in contaminated snacks and meals, freeing them and their parents from the fear of a potentially life threatening allergic reaction.

"The families involved in this study say that it has changed their lives dramatically."

Fellow researcher Dr Pamela Ewan said: "This large study is the first of its kind in the world to have had such a positive outcome, and is an important advance in peanut allergy research. However, further studies in wider populations are needed."

Writing in the journal Matthew Greenhawt, from the University of Michigan food allergy centre, USA, said the treatment is still "experimental."

He said: "Oral immunotherapy is not ready for clinical use until the short-term effects have been comprehensively proven, and the long-term side-effects, mechanism of action, and outcomes are known."

Lancet 30 January 2014 [abstract]

Tags: Allergies & Asthma | Diet & Food | UK News

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