Study Finds Peanut Butter Therapy Effective for High-Threshold Peanut Allergies in Children

Research shows gradual peanut butter consumption under medical supervision can desensitize children with mild peanut allergies, offering a potential new treatment path.

• The study involved 73 children aged 4 to 14 with high-threshold peanut allergies, meaning they could already tolerate at least half a peanut.
• Participants gradually increased their daily peanut butter intake over 18 months, starting with 1/8 teaspoon and reaching up to one tablespoon, under medical supervision.
• After treatment, all 32 children in the peanut-ingestion group tolerated three tablespoons of peanut butter during a supervised test, compared to only three of 30 in the avoidance group.
• 68.4% of the treated group achieved sustained unresponsiveness even after an eight-week peanut-free period, compared to 8.6% in the avoidance group.
• Experts highlight the therapy's potential to improve quality of life for families but stress the importance of conducting it under allergist supervision.

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