Scientists discover 'cure' for peanut allergies
Scientists discover 'cure' for peanut allergies
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Friday, 20, Feb 2009 08:10
Scientists claim to have run the world's first successful peanut desensitisation programme amongst children who usually suffer severe nut reactions.
The research, carried out at Addenbrooke's hospital in Cambridge and published in the journal Allergy today, involved patients eating daily doses of peanut flour.
The scientists admitted that at the start of the project, all the children risked a trip to hospital if they encountered a peanut – but by starting with only a five milligram serving and slowly building up over six months, the children's bodies were able to tolerate at least 800 milligrams: 160 times the starting dose, and equivalent to five whole peanuts.
Commenting on the findings, Dr Andy Clarke, said: "Every time people with a peanut allergy eat something, they're frightened that it might kill them.
"Our motivation was to find a treatment that would change that and give them the confidence to eat what they like. It's all about quality of life.
"Peanut allergy is common – it affects one in 50 young people in the UK – and unlike other childhood food allergies like cow's milk, it rarely goes away. For all our participants, a reaction could lead to life-threatening anaphylactic shock – but now we've got them to a point where they can safely eat at least ten whole peanuts."
He admitted the research did not represent a permanent cure, but added: "As long as they go on taking a daily dose they should maintain their tolerance".
The authors of the report claim there is no reason why their programme can't be extended to include adults, and say as a result the previously untreatable and potentially fatal allergy could become a thing of the past.