The guidelines for what to feed our children between the ages of four to 11 months has changed in relation to foods which may cause allergic reactions.
These recommendations have been based on a study conducted in the UK and all details of that can be found here: http://www.leapstudy.co.uk/
Australia has the highest rate of food allergies in children in the world with 1 in 10 being affected by peanuts, egg or milk. Our rate has been increasing over the past 20 years according to Paediatric immunologist Richard Loh, co-chair of the National Allergy Strategy (NAS).
The 2015 LEAP study found that giving peanut butter to infants from six months on and before 11 months, dramatically reduced their chance of developing a peanut allergy, by as much as 80%.
The 640 children involved with the study had severe eczema or egg allergies and so were more likely to develop a peanut allergy. These children were studied from their first year of life up to the age of five years.
The study was led by Professor Gideon Lack, of Kings College London, who had noted on a trip to Israel, that mothers fed their children snacks that had peanut in them from as young as 6 months. This piqued his interest as he knew the allergy rates in the UK were ten times higher than in Israel. He started to look into it and developed the study from there.
Why are allergies on the rise in children in Australia? According to Professor Richard Loh, there are several proposed explanations:
- Delayed versus early introduction to allergenic food (this latest LEAP study addresses this as well as other studies, which is why the recommendations have now changed)
- Hygiene hypothesis (we are too clean and the immune system is not fighting off enough infections and so is fighting things like dust mites, pollens and food instead)
- Methods of food processing (roasting peanuts make them more allergenic for example)
- Development of allergy to food by skin exposure (some babies lack a protein, Filaggrin, that binds the cells together on the skin and so allergens are able to enter at the skin level. This, it is thought, is now they can develop an allergy without actually eating the food. Hence avoiding natural moisturisers that contain nut oils or peanuts is important, as well as being mindful of kissing babies on their body after eating allergenic foods).
- Medication to suppress gastric acid production (some mediations for reflux may change how food is absorbed and could cause a rise in food allergy)
- Vitamin D status in the first year of life (low levels in mothers and babies may contribute to allergy development. Making sure you have good levels and supplementing may help)
- Baby’s microbiome (lots of studies are in motion with this but there is no clear guidelines at the moment in terms of what to do to lower food intolerance and allergies)
It’s important for parents to understand, that even if the latest recommendations are followed I terms of introducing your child to allergens from six to 11 months, 1 in 5 children will still develop a food allergy. Unfortunately, there are still many things about food allergies that are not understood and more research is needed.
According to Professor Richard Loh, it may help parents to feel more comfortable introducing these foods earlier than we used to advice, when you know that there has never been a peanut allergy related death recorded anywhere in the world for children under four years of age. There has also never been a first food allergy reaction that has resulted in a death reported anywhere in the world.
It’s recommended to check with your GP about introducing food with any form of peanuts to your child who may be likely to have a reaction. Things like family history, severe eczema and other intolerances would be reasons to seek advice first. If your child doesn’t have these conditions but does experience a reaction, stop the food and seek medical attention.
How does Chinese medicine view this? Traditionally Chinese medicine has advised to avoid foods that are likely to cause a problem. However, with the latest evidence being so strong, it is important to integrate the new information with the old and form an updated plan when it comes to supportive treatments for food intolerances and allergies. At Red Tent, we pride ourselves on keeping up to date with the latest health information and on working with your GPs to attain the best outcomes for your children. We believe in using the best of both disciplines to achieve optimal health and wellness for your child.
If you’re a health professional, check out these resources: https://preventallergies.org.au/healthcare-professionals/