Peanut allergies affect nearly five million people in the United States, and over 800,000 become allergic as adults.
Because peanuts and peanut oil are processed fairly often, these allergies can be incredibly problematic. Peanut-free meals at schools and even peanut and nut-free meal delivery services have popped up to cater to the needs of people with peanut allergies.
In 2017, researchers tested a simple treatment along with a placebo on people with peanut allergies to to see how they might respond. After 18 months, their research showed something surprising about what may be a cure for peanut allergies that has been overlooked ever since.
Probiotics Tested for 18 Months on Peanut Allergies
Scientists conducted a study published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health journal to see how probiotics might help prevent and perhaps even eliminate peanut allergies long-term.
The study was conducted by the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute in Mebourne, Australia.
Patients were given a probiotic called Lactobacillus rhamnosus, which has been shown to reduce allergies and calm the immune system. They combined it with a peanut protein with the goal of testing and altering how the immune system reacts to peanuts.
Children were given either this blend or a placebo daily for 18 months.
At the conclusion of the trial, researchers found that 80 percent of those given the probiotic saw no signs of the allergy after four years.
Seventy-percent of those who took the probiotic passed an exam for long-term peanut tolerance.
“It would seem that children who have benefited from the probiotic peanut therapy are able to change the way that they live and not have to really worry about peanuts anymore,” Mimi Prang, lead researcher, told the journal. “That’s what’s exciting.”
The study was done on a small group but showed plenty of promise. According to Prang, the probiotic treatment may work for more than just peanut allergies.
“Theoretically, it should work for any other allergen that’s also presented with this probiotic,” Prang said. “I think a really important study to do next would be to see if it works in the setting of other food allergies to induce a long-lasting tolerance.”