New And Developing Treatment Options For Peanut Allergies
One of the most common types of food allergy is an allergy to peanuts. Not only that, but peanut allergies tend to cause more severe and extreme reactions than some of the other common food allergies. Because of that, this specific allergen has been the focus of many studies and developments in food allergy treatments. Get to know some of the newer and currently developing treatment options for peanut allergies so that you can be sure that you get the treatment that you need (for yourself, your child, or another loved one) to better manage peanut allergies.
A Gene Therapy Treatment For Peanut Allergies
Recent research on peanut allergies has found that there may be hope for a peanut allergy cure through gene therapy. This treatment option would ideally be a one time shot (injection) of a drug, omalizumab that has been modified or altered from its current form.
When a person has an allergy to peanuts, the introduction of peanuts into the system causes the immune system to release a specific substance (known as an immunoglobin ). The immunoglobin causes the body to react against peanuts like it would a virus or bacteria that has invaded, and causes inflammation among other symptoms.
The medication, omalizumab, attaches itself to the immunoglobin produced in these situations which renders it entirely ineffective. However, the medication in its standard form is only effective for a short period of time. The current research has scientists hiding the important properties of the medication inside of a virus and injecting it into subjects (mice) with peanut allergies. Results of these trials are promising, although further research needs to be done to see if it will be as effective and safe in humans as it seems to be in mice.
Consuming a High-Fiber Diet
While you may not think it, just avoiding peanuts is not the only way to deal with a peanut allergy. New studies show that consuming a diet that is high in healthy fiber can be a great way to reduce the severity of food allergies and can even prevent them.
Fiber can change the way both the digestive and immune system function inside the body. It can change the composition of the microbes in the gut. The microbia (also known as bacteria) in the gut change are shown to change when a person consumes more fiber, making them actually work to fight against food allergies. As such, changing your diet and adding in fiber, could theoretically, prevent dangerous reactions to peanuts as well as other food allergies.
Now that you know a few of the new and developing treatment options available to help you overcome your allergy to peanuts, you can be sure that you are doing everything you can to deal with and treat your peanut allergies.
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