Some good news on the health front: Peanut allergies are on the decline.

A new study, published on Oct. 20, shows we may be on the way to eliminating the peanut allergies that have been problematic ‒ and even deadly ‒ for decades.

The research shows youth peanut allergy rates dropped in the years following 2017 guidance that suggested introducing peanut into infants' diets as a means of allergy prevention. Overall, researchers found a 43% decrease in peanut allergies, with peanut allergy rates falling from 0.79% from 2012 to 2015 to 0.45% from 2017 to 2020.

"This study provides the first strong, real-world evidence that early food introduction guidelines are working," says David Hill, an allergist and immunologist at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and one of the study's authors. "Parents should feel reassured that early introduction of peanut and other allergenic foods, starting around 4 to 6 months of age, is both safe and effective in preventing food allergy."

Is the peanut-free table gone for good?

Experts didn't always think it was a good idea to give babies peanut products. But the 2015 Learning Early About Peanut Allergy (LEAP) trial found early introduction to peanuts cut chances of an allergy by over 80%. This led the National Institutes of Health to officially recommend in 2017 that parents expose their infants to peanuts when they're ready to eat solids.

Now, the results are in.

Researchers looked at electronic health records of about 120,000 kids under 3 years old and found that LEAP guidance coincides with downward trends. All food allergies, peanuts included, have dropped by 36%.

Importantly, the guidance isn't the only factor here, as the study only observed patterns in the data, Hill says.

"We still need to understand how families are introducing these foods, what forms they use, how much and how often they feed them, and whether early introduction is being sustained over time," Hill says. "The study couldn’t capture those details from electronic records."

More long-term study is needed to determine whether updated 2021 LEAP guidance, which encourages early introduction of multiple allergens, including peanuts, eggs and milk, is making a difference, Hill says. And researchers also need to better explore the impact of socioeconomic factors, too.

"Not all caregivers can afford specialized infant-safe peanut products, and guidance materials may not always be available in the family’s preferred language," Hill says. "Expanding public health messaging through primary care, WIC programs, and community outreach could help close these gaps and ensure every parent receives accurate, practical information."

But the findings are a hopeful indicator that exposure makes an impact.

"The key message is that delaying allergenic foods increases risk, while introducing them early and regularly offers protection," he says. "This study shows that when families and clinicians follow these guidelines, we can make meaningful progress in reducing childhood food allergies across the country."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Peanut allergies are sharply declining, in part, thanks to some game-changing advice

Reporting by Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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