Early Introduction of Peanut Foods and Epigenetics Could Affect Peanut Allergy Development

Peanut allergies affect an estimated three million people in the U.S., and while there is currently no known cure or treatment, new research suggests that introducing peanut-containing foods during infancy may help prevent the development of a peanut allergy. As of January 2017, an expert panel sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) issued this new recommendation for peanut-containing foods. While these new guidelines may help reduce the incidence of children developing peanut allergies, a 2015 study suggests that genes and epigenetics also play a role.