Government advice on peanut avoidance during pregnancy--is it followed correctly and what is the impact on sensitization?

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND:
In 1998, the UK government issued precautionary advice that pregnant or breast-feeding women with a family history of atopy, may wish to avoid eating peanuts during pregnancy and lactation. This study aimed to assess the compliance with this recommendation and investigate its impact upon peanut sensitization.

METHODS:
A total of 858 children born immediately after the advice were followed for 2 years and assessed for peanut sensitization. A standardized questionnaire was used to ascertain history of atopy and maternal exposure to peanuts during pregnancy. Following parental consent children were skin prick tested to assess sensitization to peanuts.

RESULTS:
Sixty-five per cent of mothers had avoided peanuts during pregnancy. Forty-two per cent of the mothers had heard about the government advice, and half modified their diet as a consequence. Neither maternal nor family history of atopy had any significant effect on peanut consumption. Parity did play a role, and mothers having their first child were twice as likely to change their diet (P<0.001). Mothers of 77% of the children sensitized to peanuts had avoided peanuts during pregnancy. In this cohort study maternal consumption of peanut during pregnancy was not associated with peanut sensitization in the infant.

CONCLUSIONS:
The majority of mothers in this cohort avoided peanut consumption during pregnancy. It is likely that either the government advice is misunderstood by mothers, or that those who communicate the advice have not fully explained who it is targeted at.

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Author information

Author/s: Dean, T (T); Venter, C (C); Pereira, B (B); Grundy, J (J); Clayton, C B (CB); Higgins, B (B);

Affiliation: The David Hide Asthma and Allergy Research Centre, St Mary's Hospital, Newport, Isle of Wight, UK. tara.dean(-atsign-)port.ac.uk

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Journal of human nutrition and dietetics : the official journal of the British Dietetic Association (J Hum Nutr Diet), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Apr; vol 20 (issue 2) : pp 95-9

Dates: Created 2007/03/21; Completed 2007/05/14;

PMID: 17374021, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult
Arachis hypogaea - immunology
Breast Feeding
Cohort Studies
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Great Britain - epidemiology
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn

Lactation - immunology
Male
Maternal Behavior
Nutrition Policy
Parity
Patient Compliance
Peanut Hypersensitivity - epidemiology; immunology; prevention & control
Pregnancy
Prevalence
Questionnaires

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