NIH study confirms there is a long-term protective effect to early and regular peanut consumption

The LEAP-Trio study, led by Dr. Gideon Lack, Kings College London Professor, LEAP-Trio Lead Investigator, and Mission Mighty Me co-founder, was published in the NEJM Evidence Journal May 28, 2024. It is the first study to establish long-term oral tolerance as a protective strategy against peanut allergy.  

The new study results provide conclusive evidence that starting babies on peanut foods early and keeping them in the diet regularly until age five, achieves long-term peanut allergy prevention through adolescence, even without continued consumption of peanuts beyond five years of age.

This study builds on the Learning Early About Peanut Allergy (LEAP) clinical trial, which found that early introduction of peanut foods and regular consumption for the first five years of life, reduced the risk of peanut allergy at age five by 81%.

Former NIAID-Director Anthony Fauci said, “The results have the potential to transform how we approach food allergy prevention.” The LEAP Study did change feeding guidelines around the globe to encourage feeding children peanut and other common allergens early and regularly, starting in infancy

The LEAP-Trio study takes the research a step further, following the original LEAP participants until age 12 and older. The Study found that children who consumed peanuts early and regularly for the first five years of life, had a 71% reduction in peanut allergies in adolescence compared to the avoidance group, even if peanut foods were avoided after age five.

According to Dr. Lack, although not directly proven, this strategy is likely to be effective for other food allergies regarding tree nut consumption and preventing the development of tree nut allergies.

Key Takeaway from Dr. Lack:

There is a long-term protective effect to early and regular peanut consumption. In order to prevent peanut allergy, young babies as early as four months of age, should be given peanuts in the form of peanut puffs or peanut butter regularly and frequently (at least three times a week) over the first 4 to 5 years of life.

“The evidence is clear that early introduction of peanut in infancy induces long term tolerance and protects children from allergy well into adolescence,” said Dr. Lack. “This simple intervention will make a remarkable difference to future generations and see peanut allergies plummet.”