How boiled peanuts could be the answer to peanut allergies according to this study

8th March 2023

How boiled peanuts could be the answer to peanut allergies according to this study

Amongst all the food allergies that exist, the peanut allergy might be the one that comes to mind first. It’s become practically synonymous with child allergies, and not without reason. They affect around 2% of children in the UK, with it seemingly increasing over the past few decades.

So it’s no surprise when new research into the topic comes out. We’ve even covered it ourselves in the past. But there’s a new study that’s taking its own approach – with interesting results. Let’s look at what they did and what they discovered in the process.

The study

Researchers at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia looked into the effectiveness of boiling peanuts as a way of treating a peanut allergy. They conducted what is called ‘oral immunotherapy’ – treating something through ingesting via the mouth. After eliminating any potential participants who had a history of severe reactions, they had 70 children aged 6-18 years old who underwent an almost year-long study.

It was carried out in phases, with the first involving feeding the children peanuts that had been boiled for 12 hours and crushed into a powder. This is part of the oral immunotherapy method – you start with small amounts and increase over time as tolerance builds up. And it was no different in this study.

As they moved through the phases, they went from 12-hour boiled peanuts to 2-hour boiled peanuts to roasted peanuts, all over the course of around 50 weeks. It ended with an oral food challenge, which involved eating 12 roasted peanuts under strict monitoring to see if there was any reaction.

What did they find?

Of the 70 children taking part, 56 (80%) were successfully desensitised to the 12 peanuts. Does that mean they were cured? No – they still had their peanut allergy. But how much they reacted was significantly lower. This could have interesting implications for how we treat peanut allergies and how we keep children safe.

It could be a way to eventually remove the risk of even the most severe reactions. Though note we said eventually. This is the start of something promising but it needs further research. And oral immunotherapy doesn’t work for everyone. These are things to consider before getting too excited.

Also note that this is something you should NOT try on your own. Remember that this study was carried out under strict scientific supervision with an allergy professional in the room should the worst happen. But stay optimistic! This is a good reason to celebrate and we can’t wait to see where the research goes next.

While there is no cure for peanut allergies, there is plenty of support. If you or your child needs advice on how to cope with your allergic conditions, get in touch with our friendly and professional team today. You can call us on 02031 433 449 or register as a new patient with us.

Are inorganic food additives to blame for our allergies?

18th January 2023

Are inorganic food additives to blame for our allergies?

Sometimes, in life, not everything has an answer. And allergies are no different. While there are plenty of theories out there, there’s no singular concrete explanation for why we develop allergies. For some, they develop them as young children. Others develop them later in life. It’s a bit of a mystery.

So it’s no surprise that plenty of research goes into trying to find out what’s going on. And one recent review has thrown its own ideas into the ring. But does it get us any closer to finding an answer? Let’s take a look and see what it has to say…

The review

A team including Mohammad Issa of Université Paris-Saclay conducted a thorough review into the effects of something called ‘nanoparticles’ on our health. Specifically, those used throughout food production. They set out to look into how these nanoparticles affect babies when ingested by the mother.

The theory was that an increase in the use of inorganic nanoparticles was playing its part in rising allergy cases. And that unaware mothers were passing these on through the placental barrier or breast milk, thus increasing the risk of food allergies in their babies and infants. The full review is quite complicated, so let’s break down where these nanoparticles come from.

Nanoparticles

The review highlights three main areas where nanoparticles are likely to enter our system. First, they mention phytosanitary products – these are products used in agriculture to protect plants. They’re likely to be fertilisers or pesticides.

Then there are processing aids, which are used during food production but aren’t usually listed in the ingredients. Their purpose will be different from food to food. But they could be something used to elongate shelf-life or stop a build-up of foam.

Finally, there are ‘food contact materials’ – i.e. objects or surfaces that food will come into contact with during food production. Think storage tanks, worktops, conveyor belts, and so on.

What all three of these have in common is that nanoparticles are being used more and more often. They greatly benefit the food production process, making it quicker and easier to prepare food. But this review aimed to look at the potential long-term impacts of using these.

What does this all mean?

As of right now, it doesn’t necessarily mean anything. This is a review, not a study; it wasn’t looking at a direct connection between nanoparticles and allergies. All it sought to do was point out that nanoparticles can cross that placental barrier. And when they do that, it can affect intestinal microbiomes which can, in turn, potentially lead to allergies.

It’s more saying “there may be a link we need to be aware of” than outright confirming they’re connected. That’s not to say it isn’t worth it. It’s reviews like these that force us to take a step back and ask if nanoparticles are the right thing. And it’s another step towards potentially pinning down exactly where allergies come from.

Karine Adel-Patient, who was part of the review, said it best: “The impact of such exposure on the development of food allergy has not been assessed to date. Our review highlights the urgent need for researchers to assess the risk related to exposure to foodborne inorganic nanoparticles during a critical window of susceptibility and its impact on children’s health.”

As always, we’ll keep you up to date with any other reviews and studies into allergies as they come along.

If you ever have any questions about your allergies, or those of your children, feel free to get in touch with us today. Our allergy specialists are always ready to answer any queries you have. Just call us on 02031 433 449 or register as a new patient.

Allergic to your smartphone? New research shows why our phones might be triggering our allergies

23rd November 2022

Allergic to your smartphone? New research shows why our phones might be triggering our allergies

Did you know that there are around 53.5 million smartphone users in the UK? That’s 78.9% of our population! But we’re sure it doesn’t come as a surprise that smartphones are so popular in society right now. They’re not just our way of communicating, but a key part of how we shop, bank, entertain ourselves – well, practically everything we do can revolve around them.

So this recent research from the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) won’t be shocking. They found that our smartphones are “reservoirs” of allergens, and could be exacerbating our allergies. Let’s take a look at their study and see what they mean…

What is the study?

The basis of this study makes a lot of sense. We use our smartphones constantly throughout the day, touching them around 2,600 times. So it stands to reason that they might pick up some allergens along the way.

For the study, researchers created fake phone models that had a similar size and surface to our actual phones. These were given to 15 volunteers to mimic our daily usage. The front of these models were wiped as part of the test so allergen levels could be measured.

What did the study find?

The research by the ACAAI found that our phones have “elevated levels of cat and dog allergens”, along with a rise in “β-D glucans (BDG) and endotoxin”. Cat and dog allergens refers to their dander, which people allergic to these animals tend to react to. It has a habit of sticking to our furniture, carpets, and apparently our phones.

BDG is something often found in fungal cell walls and is linked to mould. It can cause chronic airway problems, and is particularly important for anyone with a mould allergy. And endotoxin is another inflammatory agent, which won’t help with symptoms.

What does this mean?

So what does this mean for our everyday life? Well, it just goes to show that allergens can be found somewhere we wouldn’t usually expect. If you live with an allergy, you might be used to cleaning the house to get rid of any irritating particles. Now it seems you might have to add your smartphone to your cleaning routine.

The study used a number of industrial chemicals that you can’t buy on the shelves to clean their mock phones. But at home, this isn’t possible. It’s recommended that you clean the phone with a “soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth” according to Apple. If you have a phone case, take it off and wash it with soap in lukewarm water. Do this frequently and it should remove allergen particles.

This research shows a fascinating insight into how our technology affects our allergies. And it likely doesn’t end with phones. Tablets, TV remotes, keyboards, laptops, and anything else you touch throughout the day could be a source of aggravated allergies. So don’t skip over your tech when it comes to cleaning.

If you ever have any allergy concerns and want some expert advice on how to manage them, feel free to reach out to us. You can register as a new patient or simply call on 02031 433 449.

New study shows how to potentially treat peanut allergies

20th July 2022

New study shows how to potentially treat peanut allergies

Every so often, we see a new study or vital research into allergies. In particular, peanut allergies. Around 1 in 50 children suffer with the condition, and it’s one of the more common food allergies. And since it can lead to lethal anaphylaxis, it’s no surprise that it sees a lot of scientific attention.

One new study coming out of the University of British Columbia has shown just how effective it is if preventative treatment starts early. It’s called ‘oral immunotherapy’ and here’s what they found.

The study

The researchers wanted to see at what age group oral immunotherapy is most effective. They focused on infants under 12 months old, though this group of 69 was part of a larger study group of 452 children under the age of 5.

Oral immunotherapy is a treatment where the patient consumes small amounts of allergenic food – in this case, peanut flour. The dose is gradually increased up to a predetermined maximum amount. This method gradually desensitises the patient to the allergen, with the end result hopefully being some level of tolerance.

The children involved in the study visited a paediatric allergist every two weeks to receive their dose. Parents gave the same dose daily at home between these fortnightly visits. Over the course of the study, they went up to the maximum of 300 milligrams of peanut protein, which is equivalent to about 1.3 grams of peanuts.

The findings

42 of the 69 infants made it to the end of the study and researchers found that none of them had more than a mild reaction to a 4,000-gram dose of peanut protein. Compare this to the 7.7% of children aged 1 to 5 in the study who did have stronger reactions. It’s how they concluded that the earlier you treat peanut allergies, the better.

Saying that, the oral immunotherapy actually worked well for both groups. After a year of one peanut a day, approximately 80% of the children had developed a tolerance for peanuts. The implication is that oral immunotherapy would be an effective alternative to avoiding allergens for a lifetime.

Dr Edmond Chan, the study’s senior author and head of allergy and immunology in UBC’s department of paediatrics, said: “This treatment is affordable, very safe and highly effective, particularly if we can get it going before the infant is 12 months old.”

Research like this builds up a better understanding of how we can treat peanut allergies. As the study suggests, the sooner you tackle the problem, the better your chance of combating it. Note that this isn’t something you should do on your own. Before you think about any kind of treatment, consult an allergy specialist first.

If you want to discuss your allergy options for either you or your child, feel free to reach out to us. You can register with us as a new patient, or you can call us on 02031 433 449.

Is an end to dog allergies in sight?

26th January 2022

Is an end to dog allergies in sight?

For any animal lover, a dog allergy is as bad as it can get. Missing out on cuddling up to a furry friend isn’t a prospect many like the sound of. But for some people, it’s their reality. As many as 3 in 10 people could have an allergy to dogs (and cats). And it’s common in people who already have allergic asthma or hay fever.

But researchers in Japan might have laid the groundwork for an answer to people’s dog allergy woes. One preliminary study shows positive signs for creating a dog allergy vaccine. While we’ll stress it’s very early days, it could be promising. Let’s look at what they’ve been up to.

The research

Towards the end of 2021, researchers published their early findings in the Federation of European Biochemical Societies journal. Now, before we dive into it, it’s worth mentioning that there are actually seven types of dog allergens – the molecules that cause an allergic reaction. So finding one single “cure” isn’t simple.

But one particular allergen – “Can f 1” – causes the majority of allergic reactions to dogs. Meaning figuring out an answer to this one could help a lot of people. The problem is that not much is known about its structure. Specifically, its ‘epitopes’ – the part that is recognised by our immune system and leads to an allergic reaction.

So the research so far has involved a process called “X-ray crystallography”. This has been used to shed some light on the structure of Can f 1 and, hopefully, narrow down where this epitope is on it.

The results

Through the X-ray crystallography, the researchers found some similarities to other dog allergens. But the key is in the differences they found in the electrical charges. This could lead them to some good candidates for the epitope.

What’s next? Further research is needed to narrow the candidates down, but it’s still a big step forward. The ultimate goal is to create a vaccine that introduces small amounts of the allergen into the system – no different from any other vaccine.

Talking about the work, Takashi Inui – a specialist in allergy research and lead author on the study – had this to say: “We want to be able to present small doses of these epitopes to the immune system to train it to deal with them, similar to the principle behind any vaccine. But we can’t do this without first identifying the Can f 1’s IgE epitope.”

In reality, what they find could mean a lot for many allergies, not just dog allergies. But that’s well in the future. For now, we’ll have to learn to live with our allergies and continue to look after our health. One day, though, we might be able to truly live in peace.

You can’t wait for an allergy vaccine, so don’t leave yours untreated. Our allergy specialists can help you cope with any sensitivities you may have and give you the best advice to stay safe. Register as a new patient here or call us on 02031 433 449.

New study suggests cow’s milk allergy might not be as common as we think

15th December 2021

New study suggests cow’s milk allergy might not be as common as we think

It’s not surprising that parents are a bit on edge when it comes to their children’s health. For parents of newborns, it’s an even more anxiety-inducing time. And food allergies are certainly something they should take seriously.

One we often see in newborns is cow’s milk allergy. Depending on where you look, it affects between 1 and 7% of babies, with most outgrowing it by the age of 5. But one new study has found that guidelines may be leading to an overdiagnosis of cow’s milk allergy.

The study

Research coming out of the University of Bristol has found that symptoms associated with cow’s milk allergy are extremely common in infants. This isn’t to say that three-quarters of newborns have the allergy, rather that these are symptoms you tend to see in most babies anyway.

Guidelines to diagnose delayed cow’s milk allergies say to look for posseting (bringing up milk), vomiting, colic, loose stools, and eczema. But the researchers found that one in four parents reported two or more of these symptoms any month. Even in babies being breastfed, thus not having any cow’s milk.

The study used data from 1,303 newborns between three and twelve months.

What does this mean?

This means some children may be misdiagnosed with cow’s milk allergy when the symptoms they’re experiencing are actually normal. Dr Rosie Vincent, who led the research, said: “Guidelines designed to help the non-specialist to diagnose cow’s milk allergy in infants may unintentionally medicalise normal infant symptoms and promote over-diagnosis of cow’s milk allergy.”

Adding to this, senior co-researcher Dr Michael Perkin said: “Parents of young infants are often seen in clinics, worried about a medical cause for their infant’s symptoms such as colic, bringing up milk or loose stools. However, our research confirms that these symptoms are extremely common. In an otherwise healthy infant, an underlying cause is unlikely.”

This just goes to show how important it is to talk to an allergy specialist. They will have a much keener insight into the nature of conditions such as cow’s milk allergy. So if you ever have any concerns with your newborn, talk to an expert.

The team of specialists at London Allergy and Immunology Centre are always ready to help you with any concerns you may have. Register as a new patient today or call us on 02031 433 449.

The global impact of COVID-19 on chronic urticaria

28th April 2021

The global impact of COVID-19 on chronic urticaria

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted almost everything. It’s affected schools, workplaces, shops, and even medical practices. But the impact of the pandemic on various health conditions like chronic urticaria (CU), which affects 50 million patients globally, is still largely unknown. 

Common questions and concerns revolve around whether the treatments for CU can affect COVID, making patients more likely to contract it or worsen their symptoms. That’s why we conducted our own study to help shed some light on the impact of the pandemic on consultations, treatment, and changes in medication for patients with chronic urticaria.

What we did

We wanted to take stock of what other professionals experienced during the pandemic. A 17-item questionnaire was sent out to all 110 centres within the UCARE network. These questions focused on the most prevalent issues faced by urticaria specialists in this last year, and how this affected the care they could give.

Of the 110 surveys sent out, 95 responded.

How does COVID affect chronic urticaria?

First, let’s look at it on a physical level. With COVID-19 being a question mark for people with CU, we wanted to know if it adversely affected them. And that’s exactly what we found – COVID made CU symptoms worse for more than a third of patients. Those with severe COVID were more likely to have exacerbated CU symptoms compared to those with mild or moderate cases.

But does merely having CU make it more likely to contract the coronavirus. Our research shows that no, it doesn’t seem to increase the risk of sufferers developing a severe COVID reaction, even in patients on biological treatment (antihistamines, omalizumab). So while they aren’t more likely to catch it, there’s still a good enough reason to want to avoid it.

Chronic urticaria treatments and COVID

Next, we wanted to address how COVID affected CU treatment. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the pandemic made care for CU patients much harder to access, with almost half of the physicians in the study involved in COVID patient care, too. But with the study outlining how COVID can worsen CU symptoms, it’s clear that specialised urticaria centres are essential.

While the pandemic is making care harder to receive, it doesn’t have any significant effect on the use of first, second, and third-line treatments for CU. For example, antihistamine and omalizumab treatment continued as usual. Physicians agreed that antihistamines at the usual or higher doses are safe, even for patients with COVID-19.

In fact, antihistamines actually decreased the likelihood of fatality in patients with severe or critical lung COVID symptoms. And the same could be true for omalizumab, with 92.6% of physicians agreeing omalizumab is safe, too.

But only 24.2% agreed that immunosuppressive treatments (like cyclosporine) can be continued. 

Our research shined a much-needed light on a condition that’s gone underappreciated during the pandemic. It highlights that we need to ensure those with CU still receive the treatment they need, and that safeguarding is of top priority. We were driven by our dedication to urticaria and always raise awareness of the condition for October 1st – National Chronic Urticaria Day.

Struggling with chronic urticaria? Regain control of your life. Allergy Clinic London has a team of experts who are dedicated to helping you get control of your symptoms. Call us now on 02031 433 449.

Will the lockdown have an effect on our allergies?

26th August 2020

Will the lockdown have an effect on our allergies?

The lockdown has been part of our lives for some months now. It’s eased up recently, but there are still restrictions on what you can do. And, depending on where you live, your lockdown might be more strict than somewhere else. Basically, life’s still a bit up in the air.

It makes you question how it affects our health. Are we doing less exercise, meaning we pile on the pounds? Or does the lack of traffic lead to less air pollution, meaning our lungs are breathing in cleaner air? It’s no doubt something researchers will be interested in for years to come.

Some are even looking at the lockdown’s effects on allergies. Over in Ireland, research is underway to see if it’s affecting our infants…

The study

Researchers from the department of paediatrics at Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI), along with some from Children’s Hospital at Temple Street in Dublin, will be looking into the effects of the lockdown on babies in relation to allergies.

Their thoughts centre around the lower rates of infections and improved air quality that have come from the lockdown. They are researching whether this makes developing allergies more or less common. The large-scale study will involve 1,000 babies born between March and May 2020.

Professor Jonathan Hourihane, Professor of pediatrics at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences is leading the study. He says allergic diseases like eczema, asthma, hay fever, and food allergies have become more common in the last 30 years. And – according to the NHS – he isn’t wrong. He says recent events provide a “unique scientific opportunity” to examine the origins of allergies.

The immune system

Talking about this research, Professor Hourihane said: “After birth, a baby’s immune system soon focuses on all the new challenges that life outside the womb brings, including fighting off infections and responding to immunisations.”

“We want to see children playing on the floor, getting dirty and being exposed to lots of people in lots of environments. The outcome of this is usually a stronger immune system, linked to a healthy population of gut bacteria, called the microbiome.”

“Ireland’s Covid-19 lockdown appears to have reduced the amount of other viral infections, which typically circulate in the community.”

“We have seen less than half the usual number of attendances at paediatric emergency departments and rates of seasonal influenza and other late spring upper respiratory viruses seemed much lower than usual during this time.”

The babies taking part in the study will have a blood sample taken at the start. Then, one year later, another sample will be taken to test for COVID-19 antibodies. They’ll also look at stool samples to see the baby’s microbiome. And, of course, there will be an allergy test at one and two years old to test for any allergic conditions.

We’ll have to wait to find out what their results are, but they could change how we think about allergies. It will no doubt be one of many studies around the effects of the lockdown as we try to determine just how much we’ve changed.

If you have any allergy concerns, feel free to get in touch with one of our allergy specialists. We have the knowledge and expertise to help you through your worries. Call us on 02031 433 449 to find out more.

New study links antacid medicines to allergies

18th September 2019

New study links antacid medicines to allergies

Recently, research published in the journal Nature Communications has found an interesting link between prescription antacid medicines used to reduce stomach acid and the likelihood of needing a prescription of anti-allergy drugs in future years. 

Researchers looked at data from the health records of over eight million people in Austria over four years. This is around 97% of the population – a significant sample for Austria, but perhaps not for the rest of the world. Though is there something we can learn from the study?

The results

The results from the research show people who took proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) – such as antacids – are around two times more likely to get a prescription for anti-allergy drugs in the future. They also found that it was more prominent in women and the elderly. 

Causes

While this research suggests antacids are linked to allergies, it’s not always that simple. Even with other research that shows the same, you can’t say for sure one thing causes the other. It’s what we call ‘causality’. This is especially true when you’re comparing other countries. Sir Munir Pirmohamed, a professor of molecular and clinical pharmacology, says the study has limitations. 

These limitations are things like what health conditions the patients might have had, their lifestyles, other drugs they might take, and other variables. While the study is interesting, we can’t say for sure that antacid medication causes a need for anti-allergy medication in the future. However, there might still be something we can learn.

The study suggests we need to be careful when prescribing medicines as they can have adverse effects on patient health. So we should prescribe medicines only when necessary, in the correct amounts, and after a thorough risk assessment. 

No one is 100% certain what causes allergies, although there are many theories out there. While we don’t know the causes, allergy professionals know the most effective treatments.

If you’re suffering from an allergy and need to find a new way to manage your symptoms effectively, don’t hesitate to contact the consultants at the London Allergy and Immunology Centre on 02031 433 449.