Can Maternal Diet Affect Infant Food Allergies?

We know that early consumption of peanut protein between 4 and 6 months of age significantly reduces peanut allergy in children. However, it’s unclear if maternal consumption of allergenic foods while pregnant and breast-feeding can further reduce this risk.

Over 2000 pregnant women in Australia were randomized to high consumption of eggs and peanuts (at least 6 eggs and 60 peanuts weekly) or standard consumption (at most 3 eggs and 30 peanuts) starting before 23 weeks’ gestation and continuing through the first 4 months of breast-feeding. At least two of the fetus’s family members (parents or siblings) had to have allergic conditions.