In response to the rising rate of peanut allergies among children, doctors and other health professionals have been advising expectant and nursing mothers to eliminate peanuts from their diet since the year 2000. Around the same time, the American Academy of Pediatrics tacked on a post-birth recommendation that high-risk infants should not be exposed to peanuts until at least three years of age. While it was expected that these measures would reduce the risk of peanut sensitivity, the incidence of allergy continued to increase, more than tripling from 1997 (0.4% of US children) to 2010 (1.4% of US children). Upon investigating this counterintuitive effect, many researchers are now demonstrating that higher peanut consumption during pregnancy may actually result in lower rates of allergy among children.
One study found that maternal peanut consumption during the first trimester of pregnancy resulted in a 47% reduction in the likelihood of an allergic reaction during their offspring’s childhood. Another group of researchers revealed that children whose mothers reported the highest levels of peanut and tree nut consumption during pregnancy had the lowest risk of peanut and tree nut allergy. (Though this study was expanded to include tree nuts, the researchers concluded that there was a general negative association between maternal nut exposure, including peanuts, and child allergy.) These findings, along with similar research on other common food allergens like wheat and milk, support the hypothesis that exposure during pregnancy is positively correlated with tolerance in offspring.
Image Source: Fertnig
Though some maternal diet restrictions remain controversial, the amount of research suggesting that early exposure to allergens has a positive or neutral impact is growing. Additionally, peanuts are beneficial for both the mother and developing infant. Besides providing protein and healthy fats, they are also a great source of folic acid, which helps prevent neural tube defects.
While the percentage of children affected by a peanut allergy is still relatively low, those who do suffer from food sensitivity often experience severe reactions upon exposure. Food allergies send just under 10,000 children a year to the hospital, and it is estimated that peanut allergies are responsible for an estimated 150 to 200 deaths annually. For these children, avoidance is crucial; even when their diets are carefully monitored, they still face risks while dining outside of the home. In order to prevent food sensitivity among tomorrow’s children, however, researchers are suggesting just the opposite. The higher the exposure to peanuts, especially during pregnancy, the lower risk a child may face of developing this lifelong, limiting allergy.
Feature Image Source: Tina Franklin
