Preventing food allergy

Abstract

In this review, we examine the critical periods of immune development and how these might be modified to prevent food allergy. The relevant dietary intervention studies, roles of microorganisms and their products, and other strategies are critically analyzed. Additionally, we highlight the potential importance of different routes of allergic sensitization and the role of oral tolerance induction in the pathogenesis and prevention of food allergy.

Cohort Profile: The ‘Children of the 90s’—the index offspring of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children

“…This finding also helped to persuade the US National Institutes of Health to carry out their own ‘Back to Sleep’ campaign that started in 2004. (ii) The finding that the application of skin creams containing peanut oil as a base ingredient to broken skin 20 , 21 sensitized children to peanut allergy has led to some manufacturers altering the composition of the creams and the Committee on Safety in Medicines recommending that warning labels be included on all medicinal products containing peanut oil. (iii) ALSPAC has contributed to the debate on the consumption of fish during pregnancy.…”

Peanut-lupine antibody cross-reactivity is not associated to cross-allergenicity in peanut-sensitized mouse strains

“…In contrast, little progress was made for prevention and treatment of peanut allergy. Thus, avoidance, the only effective preventive treatment, is extremely difficult because of the widespread and often disguised use of peanuts in the food industry and others [5]. Only a small number of peanut allergic patients carries pharmacologic agent that interfere with the consequences of mediator release (i.e., epinephrine) and even timely injection of this may not prevent death [6,7].…”

Early consumption of peanuts in infancy is associated with a low prevalence of peanut allergy

“…[8][9][10][11] Studies eliminating food allergens during pregnancy, lactation, and infancy have consistently failed to prevent IgE-mediated food allergy. [12][13][14] There are 2 hypothetical explanations for the failure of these studies. First, sensitization does not occur through oral exposure but through other routes.…”