In a groundbreaking study, an overwhelming majority (80%) of participants were able to overcome their peanut allergies. The results of the research open up the possibility of new treatments for people suffering from this debilitating condition.

Peanut allergy is the most common food allergy in Western countries, affecting 1–3% of children.

While a peanut allergy in childhood can be a long-term affliction for most, a fortunate few (20%) may eventually outgrow the condition. For years, avoiding allergens and being prepared with rescue medication has been considered the primary approach to managing allergic reactions.

Avoiding peanuts, however, may be difficult for both kids and their parents, since the legume is common in our diets and there is always the possibility of cross-contamination during production.

This means that kids and their parents have to be very careful about eating peanuts, which puts a lot of stress on kids and their families.

In a new study, published today, Australian researchers say that boiling peanuts can take away most of what makes people allergic to them. This means that people with peanut allergies might be able to eat peanuts again and get rid of their allergies.

For the study, the team found 70 kids ages 6 to 18 who were allergic to peanuts.

Children with peanut allergies underwent oral immunotherapy, which involved sequentially increasing their doses of 12-hour boiled peanut for 12 weeks, 2-hour boiled peanut for 20 weeks, and roasted peanut for 20 weeks, to a target maintenance dose of 12 roasted peanuts daily. After this period, the children underwent a supervised oral food challenge.

56 out of the 70 subjects (80%) lost their sensitivity to peanuts. Bad side effects from the treatment were reported by 43 (61%) of the participants, and 3 of them dropped out of the trial.

According to the authors, “oral immunotherapy using boiled followed by roasted peanuts represents a pragmatic approach that appears effective in inducing desensitization and is associated with a favourable safety profile.”

In summary, their findings indicate that it is both feasible and safe to use a clinic-based protocol of oral immunotherapy (OIT) for children with peanut allergy, which involves gradually increasing doses of both boiled and roasted peanuts. 

However, more research is needed to determine the usefulness of this treatment in clinical settings.

Source: 10.1111/cea.14254

Image Credit: Getty