Top in allergy/asthma: Early peanut introduction; metformin lowers asthma hospitalizations

Feeding children peanut products from infancy to age 5 years reduced the prevalence of peanut allergy into adolescence, according to recent data.

The LEAP-Trio trial included children from the original LEAP study who were assigned to consume or avoid peanuts until age 5 years. After the original study period ended, participants were allowed to consume or avoid peanuts at will. By age 12 years, 15.4% of participants in the peanut avoidance group had developed a peanut allergy, compared with 4.4% of participants in the peanut consumption group.

It was the top story in allergy/asthma last week.

In another top story, children aged 6 to 17 years with type 2 diabetes or elevated blood glucose levels and asthma experienced fewer asthma-related hospitalizations and steroid courses while taking metformin, according to a presentation at the American Thoracic Society International Conference.

Read these and more top stories in allergy/asthma below:

Early peanut introduction in infancy may prevent allergy in adolescence

Consuming peanut products from infancy through age 5 years provided lasting tolerance into adolescence without the need to regularly upkeep consumption, according to a study. Read more.

Metformin associated with fewer hospitalizations in children with asthma

Children with asthma who used metformin experienced decreases in asthma-related hospitalizations and oral steroid use, according to an abstract presented at the American Thoracic Society International Conference. Read more.

Electronic nicotine delivery systems linked to higher risk for earlier asthma onset

The use of electronic nicotine delivery systems by adults in the last 30 days was associated with earlier ages of asthma onset, suggesting that public health measures should be taken to motivate users to stop, according to a recent study. Read more.

Patients with asthma, hypertension trend older with higher BMI

Patients with asthma and hypertension tended to be older and had higher BMI than those patients with asthma who did not have hypertension, according to a presentation at the American Thoracic Society International Conference. Read more.

Inhaled corticosteroids for asthma may increase risk for adrenal suppression

Plasma metabolite profiles were significantly associated with cortisol levels among patients with asthma who use inhaled corticosteroids, according to a poster at the American Thoracic Society International Conference. Read more.