Study Goals:
- To identify a simple, safe, and cost- effective strategy of great public health benefit that prevents the majority of food and potentially respiratory allergies.
- Furthermore, we will identify key mechanisms (lipid abnormalities, epithelial physiological measures, epithelial barrier measurement, proteomic, microbiome, immune pathways, environmental exposures, etc.) involved in the development of allergy.
What we’re testing: The Dual Allergen Exposure Hypothesis
This hypothesis posits that early allergen exposure through the skin increases food allergies, while early consumption of allergens increases immune tolerance. We are exploring this hypothesis by examining the impact of proactive vs. reactive care for infants with visibly dry skin or atopic dermatitis on food allergy development.
Why this matters: The Atopic March
Studies have consistently shown that atopic dermatitis (aka eczema) is associated with the subsequent development of allergic disease, such as food allergy and asthma or allergic rhinitis. In the Learning Early About Peanut (LEAP) and Enquiring About Tolerance (EAT) studies, both the severity and the duration of atopic dermatitis in the 1st year of life were predictors of peanut allergy (PA) and sensitization by 1 year of age. There is increasing evidence that atopic dermatitis, associated as it is with an impaired skin barrier and inflammation, could be the precursor to allergic sensitization and consequent allergic disease.
Study design:
190 research participants will be randomized (just like flipping a coin) to one of the following groups
Group 1: Aveeno cream and topical steroid. Group 2: Tri-lipid emollient cream and topical steroid. Group 3: Reactive care only. Primary endpoint: Number of proven food allergies between ages 1-3. This study is 3 years long. _______ Thank you to our generous donors & funding sources for this study:
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) in the National Institute of Health (NIH), The Hill Family, The Barakett Family, and an anonymous donor.
