Peanuts and pregnancy

A group of researchers lead by Dr. Scott Sicherer of the Jaffe Food Allergy Institute has conducted a study to identify factors associated with peanut sensitisation. They evaluated 503 infants 3 to 15 months of age (mean, 9.4 months) with likely milk or egg allergy but no previous diagnosis of peanut allergy. They found an association between maternal consumption of peanut during pregnancy and peanut sensitization in infants with likely milk or egg allergy.

Frequent peanut consumption during pregnancy, IgE levels to milk and egg, being male, and non-white race were found to be the primary factors associated with likely peanut allergy in the group of infants studied. For the purpose of this research, likely peanut allergy was considered where peanut IgE levels were 5 kUA/L or greater. Those infants with likely peanut allergy will continue to be studied to determine whether true peanut allergy develops.

Despite these findings, there is not enough evidence to make any public health recommendations in relation to maternal consumption of peanut while pregnant or breastfeeding.

A video interview of Dr. Sicherer discussing the results of the study on American Morning is available.

Reference: Sicherer et al. 2010. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. DOI:10.1016/j.jaci.2010.08.036.