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# The age of allergen introduction matters for both prevention and treatment.
- URL: https://london-allergy-consultants.ghost.io/the-age-of-allergen-introduction-matters-for-both-prevention-and-treatment/
- Published: 2026-09-30T16:47:02.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-30T16:47:02.000Z
- Author: George du toit
- Tags: peanut allergy, Food Allergy Prevention, LEAP Study

Along with Professor Gideon Lack, we recently published on how age influences outcomes in allergy prevention and treatment. 

The full manuscript is [available in the NEJM;](https://www.nejm.org/doi/abs/10.1056/NEJMcp2314424?utm%5Fsource=gemini) here are some take-home messages we wanted to communicate - 

***Prevention:***

- Early introduction of peanut protein reduces the prevalence of peanut allergy by approximately 80%; this very strong effect even in this higher-risk population (i.e., infants with moderate to severe eczema and/or egg allergy).
- This is a time-sensitive intervention, delaying the dietary introduction of peanut protein significantly diminishes its preventative efficacy, the window of oppertunity closes by month (mostly in the first year of age).
- Effective prevention requires a weekly ingestion of approximately 2 g of peanut protein (one teaspoon of smooth peanut butter) for low-risk infants and 4 to 6 g for high-risk infants.
- Population-wide early introduction strategies reduce the overall disease burden more effectively than targeting only high-risk groups.

***Treatment:***

Starting **peanut immunotherapy** in younger children (aged 1 to 3 years) yields greater efficacy and higher clinical remission rates than in older children.

> If interested in the topic, please do read the paper, or attend our London Allergy Consults Clinic for a full discussion around food allergy prevention and treatment options - [https://www.londonallergyconsultants.co.uk/](https://www.londonallergyconsultants.co.uk/?ref=london-allergy-consultants.ghost.io)