Hi Christy,
This is in the archives.  Here is a repost of a 17 Oct 2000 post of
mine on the subject.

See the following:

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/316/7149/1926/a  British Medical
Journal article [BMJ 1998;316:1926 (27 Jun)] titled "Women warned to
avoid peanuts during pregnancy and lactation."

The article reports on advice from the British government's Committee
on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the
Environment, which studied the question of why peanut allergy (in
particular) seems to be increasing.

Quoting from the article:
"John Warner, professor of child health at Southampton University and
a member of the government's working group on peanut allergy, said:
'Maternal consumption of peanuts and peanut products seems to be
associated with earlier onset and increasing prevalence of allergy.'

"Evidence from aborted fetal samples shows that from the second
trimester onwards fetuses are capable of producing an allergic
reaction. There are several theories on how sensitisation occurs.
Some research shows that antigens from the mother can cross the
placenta, whereas other work suggests fetuses can swallow IgE from
the amniotic fluid, causing sensitisation."

(end quoting)

Other pertinent references:
Cohort study of peanut and tree nut sensitization by age of 4 years.
BMJ 1996;313:514-517

Managing peanut allergy.  BMJ 1996;312:1050-1051

Prevention of peanut allergy (Commentary).  Lancet 1998 Jul 4; 352(9121):4-5

Peanut allergy (correspondence).  Lancet 1998 Aug 29; 352(9129):741-742

Exposure to peanuts in utero and in infancy and the development of
sensitization to peanut allergens in young children.  Pedatr Allergy
Immunol 1999 Feb; 10(1):27-32

Margaret Bickmore
mom of 2, LLLL
Longmont, CO

>Hi,
>
>Does anyone have any information on a mom eating peanut butter while
>breastfeeding causing an allergic reaction to peanuts or peanut butter in
>the child? I was asked this question by a breastfeeding mom who says she has
>a lot of breastfeeding friends who say this is so. I told her I would pose
>the question...
>
<snip>

>Christy Whiteside

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