Early introduction slashes risk
FEEDING sensitive babies peanuts and eggs from three months slashes the risk of allergies, a study suggests.
British researchers found tots given high-risk foods during their breastfeeding phase were up to half as likely to suffer. King’s College London scientists analysed data on 1303 English and Welsh kids who were tracked for three years.
Half were introduced to six foods that can trigger allergic reactions – this was from three months until six months old and while being breastfed.
The others were exclusively breastfed to six months.
All were tested at the start of the trial to see if they were sensitive to peanuts, eggs, milk, sesame, fish and wheat.
They made regular visits to a clinic and parents were quizzed about their youngster’s diet and allergic reactions.
Among those with any sensitivity at the start, 34.2 per cent developed an allergy in the exclusively breastfed group. But the figure was just 19.2 per cent in the early introduction group.
Among those with an initial sensitivity to peanut, 33.3 per cent and 14.3 per cent developed a peanut allergy. And for egg, the figures were 48.7 per cent and 20 per cent.
There was no difference in allergy rates between the groups in children with no sensitivities at the start of the trial.
Parents in the early introduction group were given strict instructions on quantity and timing for each food. But many struggled to follow them due to fussy kids, parent concerns or practical lifestyle constraints.