Two separate studies provided evidence that early exposure to peanuts and using a skin patch may help desensitize allergy sufferers.
Peanut allergies affect nearly 3 million Americans - or one percent of the U.S. population. Just like other allergies, it can be outgrown, but only 21 percent are able to do so. There is no sure treatment yet, but desensitization or exposing children to peanuts is showing promising results. For now, those with this type of food allergy protect themselves by avoiding foods with peanuts.
Now, two separate studies might be beneficial to people with peanut allergies. One provided evidence that exposing young children to peanuts can boost their tolerance, while the other study developed a skin patch that can teach their cells to fight the allergy.
The first study, led by Dr. Brian Vickery from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, exposed 28 participants aged 9 to 36 months to small amounts of peanuts and other legumes. After the study period, all of them had "sustained unresponsiveness" to the allergen.
The second study developed a skin patch, dubbed as Viaskin, which safely and slowly exposes the body to small amounts of the peanut allergen until cells learn to tolerate them. The skin patch was tested on 221 participants, who received different doses: 50µg, 100 µg, or 250 µg peanut patch doses (or placebo doses), for a year. After the study period, those who were treated with 250 µg peanut patch tolerated about 1 gram of peanut protein or four peanuts.
"This is exciting news for families who suffer with peanut allergies because Viaskin represents a new treatment option for patients and physicians," study leader Dr. Hugh Sampson, director of the Jaffe Food Allergy Institute at Kravis Children's Hospital at Mount Sinai in New York City, said in a news release.
Both studies were presented at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) annual meeting in Houston.