The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has initiated a clinical trial to determine if maternal consumption of peanuts and eggs during pregnancy and breastfeeding can prevent infants from developing early signs of allergies to these foods. Food allergies affect about 8% of children in the U.S., with peanuts and eggs being common allergens. The study targets pregnant women who are not allergic to these foods but have a high risk of having children with allergies due to family history. The trial, funded by the NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), will enroll 504 mother-infant pairs. The mothers will be randomly assigned to either consume or avoid peanuts and eggs from the third trimester through breastfeeding. The aim is to assess whether early maternal dietary interventions can prevent the development of immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies in infants, which are precursors to food allergies. The study, called ESCAPE, is led by Dr. Kirsi Järvinen-Seppo from the University of Rochester Medicine, with results expected in 2029. This research seeks to clarify conflicting outcomes from previous studies on maternal diet and aims to establish effective early prevention strategies for food allergies in children.

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[Source: NIH, August 5, 2025]

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