Study Reveals Associations between Cashew Allergy and Peanut Sensitization among Infants

A recent study published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice highlights the prevalence and risk factors associated with cashew allergy among infants. The research, led by Tim Brettig, MBBS, sheds light on key findings, indicating that only a quarter of infants had been introduced to cashews by the age of 12 months.

Notably, infants with one or both parents born in Asia exhibited a higher likelihood of being sensitized. The study emphasized the correlation between eczema and the heightened incidence of cashew allergy. Moreover, it revealed that peanut allergy was connected to an increased prevalence of cashew allergy among infants.

Contrary to expectations, the timing of cashew introduction after 12 months did not show any association with cashew allergy. However, the researchers suggested that infants introduced to cashews before 12 months were less likely to develop a cashew allergy.

Furthermore, adjustments for confounding variables indicated strong associations between peanut allergy and both cashew allergy and cashew sensitization, underlining the need for further investigation into potential preventive measures. The research urged for comprehensive studies with larger populations to better understand the dynamics of early nut introduction and allergy risks, particularly in at-risk infant groups.