Is Giving Babies Peanut Butter Recommended to Lower Allergy Risk?

Food allergies are a growing health concern that affects about 6% of American adults and children, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.1 Among the leading food allergens that pose a significant threat are peanuts, putting nearly 1.5 million Americans under the age of 18 at risk of life-threatening reactions like anaphylaxis.2

The American Academy of Pediatrics previously recommended parents delay the introduction of peanuts to their children until age 3. However, they discontinued this advice in 2008, and in 2019, they updated their guidelines to acknowledge that avoidance may not help prevent food allergies. In fact, there’s growing evidence to support the notion that early exposure to peanuts could be more helpful in allergy prevention later in life.3

A May 2024 study4 published in the journal NEJM Evidence further reinforces this assertion. “This is the first study to establish long-term oral tolerance as a protective strategy against peanut allergy,” Gideon Lack, professor of pediatric allergy at King’s College London and one of the authors of the study, told Fox News.5 But while this approach may sound promising, is it really the right choice for your child?

Series of Studies Show the Potential Benefits of Early Peanut Exposure

The featured study, known as the Learning Early About Peanut Allergy (LEAP)-Trio trial, builds on the results of the original LEAP clinical trial and its follow-up, the LEAP-On study. The initial LEAP trial6 in 2015 involved more than 600 infants between 4 and 11 months of age, who were considered at high risk of developing peanut allergies due to existing egg allergies or severe eczema. As reported in a news release from the National Institutes of Health:7

“During the LEAP trial, half of the participants regularly consumed peanut products from infancy until age 5 years, while the other half avoided peanut during that period. Researchers found that early introduction of peanut products reduced the risk of peanut allergy at age 5 by 81%.”

Subsequently, children from LEAP who participated in LEAP-On were asked to avoid eating peanut products from ages 5 to 6 years. Investigators found that most children from the original peanut-consumption group remained protected from peanut allergy at age 6.”

“Peanut allergy develops very early in most children between 6 and 12 months of life. If you want to prevent a disease this needs to be done before the disease develops,” Lack told CNN. He explains that this phenomenon, known as oral tolerance induction, shows that early exposure to allergens can train the immune system to resist allergies later in life.8

To follow up with these findings, the 2024 LEAP-Trio study9 sought to determine if the protective benefits of early peanut consumption would extend into adolescence. Researchers followed up with 508 participants from the original LEAP study, now around 12 years old. They found that peanut allergy remained “significantly more prevalent” in the peanut avoidance group, with 15.4% of them being allergic.

In comparison, only 4.4% of those who consumed peanuts early were allergic. These findings revealed that introducing peanuts early in life could lower the risk of peanut allergies in adolescents by 71%.10

“The key finding of this study is that early consumption of peanut, starting early in the first year of life, confers long-term protection against peanut allergy all the way into adolescence, even without continued consumption of peanut beyond the age of 5 years,” Lack further explained to Fox News Digital.11

Tiny Amounts of Peanut Butter May Be Beneficial, But Here’s the Catch

Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), emphasized in a news release12 that the findings of the LEAP-Trio study “should reinforce parents’ and caregivers’ confidence that feeding their young children peanut products beginning in infancy according to established guidelines can provide lasting…
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the pathogenic bacteria in their gut. So, if your child’s gut health is less than optimal, start by eliminating as much LA from their diet as possible and introduce healthy carbs slowly, starting with fruit juices.

Healthy carbs

Fresh fruit juices, such as sweet organic orange juice (not bitter)

In season, ripe fruits

Maple syrup or honey

Well-cooked veggies (for micronutrients and fiber)

Well-cooked roots and tubers

White rice

Masa harina

Sourdough bread

Well-cooked beans (occasionally)

Fats

Butter, ghee and tallow

Low-PUFA eggs

Raw milk and cheese

Organic chocolate

Coconut oil

Proteins

Bone broth

Ground beef or bison

Gelatinous cuts of meat, such as beef shank, oxtail, pork hock or chicken gizzards

Chicken wings, drumsticks and thighs from properly fed chickens

Conclusion

Overall, the studies and research on early peanut exposure for allergy prevention show promising results. Introducing peanuts to children at a young age has been shown to reduce the risk of peanut allergies significantly. However, it is important to be mindful of the potential risks associated with excessive polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) consumption, which is prevalent in peanut butter. Parents should aim to limit their child’s PUFA intake while incorporating a variety of healthy, nourishing foods into their diet to support optimal health and wellbeing.

FAQs

1. When should I introduce peanuts to my child?

It is recommended to introduce peanuts to children who are at low risk for allergies at 4 to 6 months old, under the guidance of a pediatrician. Children with severe eczema or egg allergies should consult an allergist before introducing peanuts.

2. How can I limit my child’s PUFA intake?

To limit PUFA intake, parents can offer peanuts in small amounts and be mindful of other sources of PUFAs in their child’s diet, such as vegetable oils and processed foods. Opting for whole, minimally processed foods and cooking with healthier fats like butter, ghee, and coconut oil can help reduce PUFA consumption.

3. What are some alternative healthy snacks for children?

Healthy snack options for children include fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, yogurt, cheese, and whole-grain crackers. Offering a variety of nutrient-dense foods can help support your child’s overall health and nutritional needs.

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