Vitamin D supplements may combat asthma A Cochrane Review (meta-analysis of multiple studies) suggests that patients with asthma who take vitamin D supplements can reduce the number and severity of attacks, researchers reported at the annual meeting of the European Respiratory Society. In nine trials reviewed by a team headed by Adrian R. Martineau, MD,…
Early introduction of egg and peanut may prevent allergy For many years parents were advised not to give their child eggs and peanuts before the age of one or even later, but more recently it’s been suggested that earlier introduction may be better, and a recent large review of studies confirms this. The review, based…
Peanut patch effective in reducing sensitivity to peanut Initial trial results have shown that a wearable patch, which delivers small amounts of peanut protein, can protect children and young adults with peanut allergies from the effects of accidental ingestion or exposure. The findings come from the first year of an ongoing trial of a treatment called…
Infants with a history of allergies should be tested for peanut allergy prior to introduction into the diet Most of the time, parents can safely feed peanuts to babies on their own, but infants with a history of allergies should still get a checkup first, a research review confirms. “If your infant has a history…
Thunderstorms and asthma As we have found with the recent deaths in Australia in the news from “thunderstorm asthma” it is important to remember that storms can trigger your asthma and allergies and could, in rare, severe cases, be fatal. Asthma and thunderstorms Thunderstorm asthma is a potentially dangerous mix of pollens, weather conditions and…
NIH recommends feeding babies peanut-based foods to lower risk of allergies Babies with a high risk of developing peanut allergy should be introduced to the food as early as 4 months according to an expert panel from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) consisting of representatives from 25 professional organizations, federal agencies,…
Early introduction of egg in babies with eczema may reduce risk of egg allergy A clinical trial conducted in Japan and published online in The Lancet (Dec. 8, 2016) found that the development of egg allergy in infants with eczema was dramatically reduced by aggressive eczema treatment combined with regular consumption of heated whole-egg powder….
Pet exposure may reduce risk of allergy and obesity A new University of Alberta study showed that babies from families with pets — 70 per cent of which were dogs — showed higher levels of two types of microbes associated with lower risks of allergic disease and obesity. But don’t rush out to adopt a…
Skin patch for peanut allergy demonstrates benefit in children Researchers have shown that a wearable patch that delivers small amounts of peanut protein through the skin has yielded promising results for treating children and young adults with peanut allergy, with greater benefits for younger children, according to one-year results from an ongoing clinical trial, published…
Delayed food introduction may increase the risk of sensitization Delaying the introduction of potentially allergenic foods until after a baby’s first year may increase the likelihood of a food allergy later on, according to new findings from the Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development (CHILD) Study. The research, published in Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, found that infants who avoided cow’s…