Food allergies affect more than 1 in every 10 children, with babies found to be at riskof developing a food allergy before they start solid foods.
There remains uncertainty about whether common food allergens, such as eggs and peanuts, should be specifically encouraged to be regularly included in the maternal diet. In developed regions where allergy risk is high in the general population, this information is important and relevant to inform every pregnant woman.
We have discovered that baby immune responses can be improved by mothers eating more eggs during the first weeks of breastfeeding.
Thus the PrEggNut team are are undertaking this research trial to determine whether mothers regularly eating more eggs and peanuts during pregnancy and breastfeeding will reduce food allergies in their babies.
The intervention trial will consist of two groups:
- The high egg and peanut diet group: Regular maternal consumption of at least 6 eggs and 60 peanuts per week from 22 weeks gestation until 4 months postnatal infant age.
- The standard egg and peanut diet group: Maternal consumption of no more than 3 eggs and 30 peanuts per week from 22 weeks gestation until 4 months postnatal infant age.
The PrEggNut team recruited 300 mothers and children from ORIGINS, alongside another roughly 1,500 mother-child dyads aross Australia.
Investigators:
- Associate Professor Debbie Palmer, The Kids Research Institute Australia
- Professor Susan Prescott, ORIGINS Co-Director, The Kids Research Institute Australia