United States: In the United States more than 800,000 children have high-threshold peanut allergies because they can withstand approximately one half of a peanut before experiencing symptoms. Scientific evidence indicates that administering increasing amounts of commercial peanut butter over time allows children with peanut allergies to develop long-term acceptance, as reported by HealthDay.
The study directed by Dr. Scott Sicherer at Mount Sinai New York City demonstrated that the method is secure for food allergy management while reducing expenses. This procedure holds substantial promise to reshape future food allergy treatments.
Future Medical Practices for Individualized Allergy Care
The research team predicts that their investigation will produce results which can transform broader food allergy treatments.
Sicherer commented in a Mount Sinai news release that our research has established threshold-based personalized food allergy treatments which may transform how individuals with allergies receive care.
Medical treatment for severe peanut allergic children who respond to tiny peanut amounts at present consists of oral immunotherapy under precise control and injectable biologic medicines. The therapeutic needs of children with high-threshold peanut allergies do not necessarily match these advanced intervention levels.
The Study: Gradual Peanut Butter Exposure Shows Remarkable Results
The trial involved 73 children between the ages of 4 and 14, all diagnosed with high-threshold peanut allergies. They were split into two groups:
- Avoidance Group: These children continued to avoid peanuts entirely.
- The Peanut Butter Group members started their intake with 1/8 teaspoon of peanut butter daily from a regular store which they then increased after eight-week intervals for 18 months.
The children in the peanut butter group received physician-approved daily doses of one tablespoon at the end of the study.
Minimal Risk, High Success Rate
During the trial, only one child required an epinephrine injection, and no other participants in the peanut butter group experienced severe reactions. The results were even more successful than researchers expected.
After the study, children in the peanut-ingestion group stopped eating peanuts for two months to test whether the benefits would last. When reintroduced, nearly 90% of the participants still tolerated peanut butter.
Overall, 68.4% of children developed a natural, long-term tolerance to peanuts—a promising sign for future treatment approaches.
Looking Ahead: A New Era for Food Allergy Treatment?
The findings suggest that for children with high-threshold peanut allergies, gradual peanut butter exposure could be a simple, effective solution, as reported by HealthDay.
“These study results are very exciting and a huge step forward in personalizing food allergy treatment,” Sicherer said. “My hope is that this study will eventually change practice and encourage further research on similar approaches for other food allergies.”