The EAT-On Study: Sensitisation, Allergy and Obesity V 2.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Effects of early introduction of allergenic foods followed by ad-libitum consumption, on food allergic sensitisation, allergy and measures of child health at 8 years of age in exclusively breastfed infants.
IRAS ID
205510
Contact name
Gideon Lack
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Approximately 6-8% of children in the developed world are affected by food allergy. Food allergy is associated with physical, psychological, social and financial burdens. Studies exploring early introduction of allergenic foods have shown compelling reductions in egg and peanut allergy but longer-term allergy and general health effects require further study.
The EAT Study examined the effects of an early-introduction regimen in a general population cohort of exclusively breastfed infants, following the children until age 3. The study showed a reduction in allergic sensitisation to peanut, egg, milk, wheat, sesame and fish and clinical allergy to peanut and egg at age 3 for children who introduced food early compared with those who followed standard infant feeding advice to exclusively consume breast milk for the first 6 months of life. However, allergy continues to evolve in later childhood, with some allergies emerging and others being outgrown.
The proposed EAT-On Study will recruit from the existing cohort of approximately 1300 EAT Study participants to determine whether early-introduction of peanut, egg, milk, wheat, sesame and fish has any long term effects on food allergic sensitisation or allergy. It will also establish whether the effects seen at 3 years in the EAT study represent a delay in food allergy onset or sustained tolerance to those foods. EAT-On will also investigate the natural history (emergence and resolution) of food allergy in childhood; thus shaping dietary and management plans for allergic patients. Findings will inform future research and weaning recommendations for preventing food allergy.
The EAT-On study additionally offers a unique opportunity to investigate how early diet influences health in later childhood, in particular, how the early introduction of a high-protein diet influences markers of cardiovascular disease and overweight/obesity. Findings will inform future research and infant feeding recommendations.
REC name
London - Chelsea Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/1687
Date of REC Opinion
8 Nov 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion