WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Australian researchers claims to have found a possible breakthrough cure for peanut allergies.
Researchers from Murdoch Children's Research Institute have successfully trialled a treatment for peanut allergies that could potentially provide a long term cure for allergic patients.
In a small study of 60 children, researchers gave a group of 30 allergic children a dose of a probiotic, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, together with peanut protein in increasing amounts over 18 months to assess whether children would become tolerant to peanut. Another group of 30 allergic children were given placebo.
Researchers found over 80 percent of children who received the treatment were able to tolerate peanut at the end of the trial, compared to less than 4 percent of the placebo group.
Lead researcher, Professor Mimi Tang said the study results are extremely exciting as they could potentially provide an effective treatment for food allergy.
'It appears that we have been able to modify the allergic response to peanut such that the immune system produces protective responses rather than a harmful response to the peanut protein,' Tang said.
Peanut allergy is one of the most common food allergies and can cause a severe, potentially fatal, allergic reaction.
Further research is now required to confirm whether patients can still tolerate peanut years after the study has finished, the statement said.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX