Early oral introduction of potentially allergenic foods in high-risk infants has been identified as one way to encourage immune tolerance. Infants are considered high-risk if they have a personal history or parent/sibling with an atopic condition (e.g., food allergy, eczema, asthma, allergic rhinitis).[1]
A 2023 meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found high-certainty evidence that introducing egg into the diet between 3 and 6 months was associated with a reduced risk of egg allergy. They calculated that early introduction could result in 16 fewer allergy cases per 1,000 people, assuming an egg allergy prevalence of 4%.[2]
Currently, the Canadian Pediatric Society, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and The European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition recommend waiting until 4 months before introducing solid foods to ensure physiological readiness.[3][4] When introducing egg, cooked egg is recommended over pasteurized raw egg, and once introduced, the food should be given regularly (a few times a week) to maintain tolerance.[1]
References
- ^Abrams EM, Watson W, Vander Leek TK, Atkinson A, Primeau MN, Francoeur MJ, McHenry M, Lavine E, Orkin J, Cummings C, Blair B, Chan ESDietary exposures and allergy prevention in high-risk infants.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol.(2022-Apr-30)
- ^Scarpone R, Kimkool P, Ierodiakonou D, Leonardi-Bee J, Garcia-Larsen V, Perkin MR, Boyle RJTiming of Allergenic Food Introduction and Risk of Immunoglobulin E-Mediated Food Allergy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.JAMA Pediatr.(2023-May-01)
- ^Soriano VX, Ciciulla D, Gell G, Wang Y, Peters RL, McWilliam V, Dharmage SC, Koplin JJComplementary and Allergenic Food Introduction in Infants: An Umbrella Review.Pediatrics.(2023-Feb-01)
- ^Abrams EM, Hildebrand K, Blair B, Chan ESTiming of introduction of allergenic solids for infants at high risk.Paediatr Child Health.(2019-Feb)