Early-Nut

Early nut protein introduction to reduce the risk of food allergy

Food allergies often begin early in life, but research has shown that introducing certain allergenic foods, such as nuts, between 4 and 6 months of age may help reduce the risk of developing food allergies later in childhood. However, researchers still do not fully understand how early food introduction helps the immune system develop tolerance. The Early-Nut study aims to better understand the biological changes that occur when allergenic nuts are introduced during infancy. By collecting clinical information and biological samples from infants who either follow an early nut introduction approach or an avoidance diet, researchers hope to identify biomarkers that can predict the development of food tolerance. The study will focus in particular on immune markers found in blood and stool samples, as well as the role of the gut microbiome and intestinal health. The findings may help improve our understanding of food allergy prevention and support the development of more personalised strategies to identify children who are most likely to benefit from early allergen introduction.