A groundbreaking new study has revealed a simple intervention that could potentially reduce peanut allergies by a remarkable 71%. The key? Introducing peanuts into a child’s diet at an early age.

For years, parents have been advised to avoid peanuts due to allergy concerns, leading to a rise in peanut allergies among young children in western countries. However, recent research conducted by scientists at King’s College London has shown that early introduction of peanuts between the ages of four months and five years can have long-term protective effects against allergies.

Lead investigator Prof Gideon Lack emphasized that the fear surrounding peanut introduction has been misguided, and the evidence now supports the idea that early exposure can lead to tolerance and prevent allergies well into adolescence. This simple yet effective intervention could potentially save thousands of children from developing peanut allergies each year.

In a series of trials involving over 1,100 children, half of whom were regularly fed peanuts during early childhood, researchers found that the risk of developing a peanut allergy was significantly lower in the group with early exposure. In fact, those who were introduced to peanuts early on had an 81% lower risk of developing an allergy by the age of five.

Following up with the same group of children as adolescents, the researchers observed that those who had avoided peanuts in their early years were more likely to develop allergies later in life compared to those with early exposure. The data showed a 71% lower risk of developing a peanut allergy in teenagers who had been introduced to peanuts as infants.

This groundbreaking research, published in the journal NEJM Evidence, highlights the importance of early peanut introduction as a preventive measure against peanut allergies. By challenging the conventional wisdom of peanut avoidance, this study offers a promising solution to the growing epidemic of peanut allergies among children.