Mothers Who Eat Peanuts During Pregnancy Put Allergic Babies At Risk

Mothers who eat peanuts during their pregnancy may put allergic infants at increased risk of potentially dangerous peanut allergies, a U.S. study finds. Researchers assessed 503 three- to 15-month-old babies who had milk or egg allergies, had eczema or tested positive for milk or egg allergies, all of which are associated with a heightened risk of peanut allergy. Of the group – none of whom had been diagnosed with peanut allergy – 140 infants were found via blood tests to have a strong sensitivity to peanuts. Eating peanuts during pregnancy was a significant predictor of the test result. While acknowledging that their study had some limitations – like reliance on self-reporting – it nevertheless “highlights the need for further research to make recommendations about dietary restrictions."