Overcome Peanut Allergies (with Peanuts!)

Modern-day allergists seem to be taking a cue from the history books: ancient kings supposedly intentionally ingested poisons to build up their tolerance to toxins in case of a murder attempt. This week, researchers report that people suffering from peanut allergies may build up their tolerance to peanuts in a similar way — by eating extremely low doses of the allergen.

For the new study, published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 40 adolescents and adults with the food allergy were tested for the maximum amount of peanuts that would generate an allergic reaction tolerance. Then, half of them took minuscule quantities of peanut powder under their tongue daily, with the doses increasing gradually every day. The other half were given a placebo powder.After 44 weeks, 14 of the 20 who received the daily peanut powder could tolerate at least 10 times as much peanut as they could handle at the beginning of the study (or 5 grams in total, whichever was more), while only three of the 20 on placebo could do the same.

Many of the people receiving treatment saw a 100-fold or better increases in their peanut tolerance. After the first stage of the experiment was finished, the group getting placebo was offered the chance to receive the peanut treatment too. Among that group as well, most were also able to improve their resistance to peanuts over subsequent months.

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