Breast milk may help avert allergies

BREASTFEEDING mothers should not avoid eggs and peanuts because exposure to them may protect their child from developing potentially deadly food allergies, researchers say.

Researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital have shown pregnant mice exposed to egg transferred protective antibodies to their offspring through their breastmilk.

The study, published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, found the transfer of these antibodies prevented food allergy and anaphylaxis in the baby mice. It also caused the production of specific immune cells that built up tolerance to the egg.

Human breast milk, fed to mice with immune systems genetically modified to match that of a human was also protective, suggesting that the mouse findings may translate to human infants.

Dr James Baker from Food Allergy Research & Education said the findings confirmed that mothers should feel free to eat a healthy and diverse diet throughout pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

“Eating a range of nutritious foods during pregnancy and breastfeeding will not promote food allergies in developing babies, and may protect them from food allergy,” Dr Baker said.

Guidelines in Australia already recommend that women no longer avoid these allergen foods during pregnancy.

But neither do the recommendations nor the new study suggest that eating eggs or peanuts during pregnancy will guarantee an allergy-free baby, cautioned Professor Katie Allen at Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.

The allergist says this important research does, however, add to a growing body of evidence that shows exposure to allergens in the first year of life and through breastmilk is important.