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When you post, please start with a complete bibliographic citation for the item you are reviewing. Summarize the work in about 250 words, then analyze the item and synthesize how it fits in with other things you've read (here, in class, in other classes, or on your own). Finally add one or more keyword labels to help us organize the bibliography.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Early peanut consumption: postpone or promote?

AW, Burks. "Early peanut consumption: postpone or promote?" J Allergy Clin Immunol 123 (2009): 424-425.
This article addresses an issue at the forefront of research concerning peanut allergies now: Should the introduction of peanuts early in infancy be promoted or postponed? In 2000, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that the introduction of peanuts be postponed in infants until 3 years of age. That is the guideline that I followed with my children. Current research suggests that early oral exposure to peanuts might actually decrease the likelihood of developing a peanut allergy. On the flip side of the issue, it has been suggested that environmental exposure to peanuts may increase the risk of developing a peanut allergy. The article also includes a discussion about the issue of whether or not maternal consumption of peanuts during pregnancy or lactation increases the risk of developing an allergy.
This is a good source of information about peanut allergy, environmental exposure, and oral consumption. Dr. Burks has been cited in a lot of the material I've been reading on this topic, so I believe that he is a reliable source.

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