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Can maternal diet prevent infant food allergy? A large trial puts eggs and peanuts to the test (opens in a new tab)

news-medical.net · 2026-09-17

Short answerEvidenceSource

Short answer

Mixed

Mixed.

One claim goes further than the study. 2 other points were not covered by the paper.

  • 3 supported
  • 1 overstated
  • 2 not covered

Checked against the study summary. The full text wasn't available, so some details couldn't be settled either way.

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Follow the evidence trail
1
2

NewsLink checks it

Mixed

One claim overstates the study. Three of six check out. Two claims the study doesn't address.

  • 3 supported
  • 1 overstated
  • 2 not covered
Open claim evidence
3
Then inspect each claim

Evidence layer

Claim by claim

Each claim gets a verdict. Expand it to see the evidence directly below.

6 claims in this story

Showing all 6 claimsChoose a verdict to focus the list.

Claim 1 of 6OverstatedThe authors concluded that higher maternal intake of eggs and peanuts during pregnancy and lactation did not reduce or increase the risk of IgE-mediated egg or peanut allergy in infants, and they pointed to separate evidence supporting timely introduction of egg and peanut directly into the infant diet.View evidenceHide evidence

Why this verdict

The profile supports the conclusion that high maternal egg/peanut intake did not significantly lower infant allergy risk at 1 year. But the story’s wording that it 'did not reduce or increase' risk is stronger than the abstract evidence: the confidence interval includes possible benefit and possible harm, and the profile does not establish equivalence or absence of any increase. The additional point about separate evidence supporting timely direct infant introduction is not verifiable from the supplied abstract profile.

1

Study evidence

No significant difference in the proportion of infants with IgE-mediated egg or peanut allergy at 1 year between maternal high egg-peanut diet and standard diet.Relative risk 0.93 (95% CI 0.69 to 1.26), P = 0.65

“In this multisite, randomized trial… Participants were assigned in a 1:1 ratio to follow either a diet high in eggs and peanuts… or a standard (control) egg and peanut diet…”
Claim 2 of 6Not coveredThe PrEggNut trial enrolled 2,137 pregnant women in Australia and randomized them to a high egg-peanut diet or a standard diet; the high-intake diet called for at least 6 eggs and 60 peanuts per week from enrollment until 4 months after delivery or until breastfeeding ended.View evidenceHide evidence

As stated2,137 women; at least 6 eggs and 60 peanuts per week

Why this verdict

Most design details are supported by the abstract profile: 1070 and 1067 randomized participants, high diet target of at least 6 eggs and 60 peanuts per week, standard diet comparator, and intervention from before 23 weeks’ gestation through 4 months postpartum. However, the abstract profile does not verify the Australia location or the exact stopping condition phrased as 'or until breastfeeding ended.'

1

Study evidence

No significant difference in the proportion of infants with IgE-mediated egg or peanut allergy at 1 year between maternal high egg-peanut diet and standard diet.Relative risk 0.93 (95% CI 0.69 to 1.26), P = 0.65

“In this multisite, randomized trial… Participants were assigned in a 1:1 ratio to follow either a diet high in eggs and peanuts… or a standard (control) egg and peanut diet…”
Claim 3 of 6Not coveredThe article says the null result remained unchanged in analyses restricted to women who breastfed for 4 months with adequate adherence, and no apparent differences were found in safety outcomes.View evidenceHide evidence

As stated5.6% versus 6.8% in the adherent subgroup; serious adverse events 3.6% versus 3.8%

Why this verdict

The abstract profile supports only the broad statement that safety measures were similar between groups. It does not provide the claimed adherent/breastfed-for-4-month subgroup analysis, the 5.6% versus 6.8% figures, or the serious-adverse-event rates of 3.6% versus 3.8%. Those details require full-text or supplementary evidence beyond the supplied abstract profile.

1

Study evidence

No significant difference in the proportion of infants with IgE-mediated egg or peanut allergy at 1 year between maternal high egg-peanut diet and standard diet.Relative risk 0.93 (95% CI 0.69 to 1.26), P = 0.65

“In this multisite, randomized trial… Participants were assigned in a 1:1 ratio to follow either a diet high in eggs and peanuts… or a standard (control) egg and peanut diet…”
2

Study evidence

The abstract reports that safety measures were similar in the high egg–peanut and standard-diet groups.

“Safety measures were similar in the two groups.”
Claim 4 of 6SupportedA large randomized trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that increasing maternal consumption of eggs and peanuts during pregnancy and breastfeeding did not significantly reduce the risk of egg or peanut allergy in infants at 1 year of age who had a strong family history of allergic disease.View evidenceHide evidence

As statedno significant reduction

Why this verdict

The profile describes a multisite randomized trial of pregnant women whose unborn child had at least two biologic family members with medically diagnosed allergic disease, comparing high versus standard maternal egg/peanut intake. The primary outcome showed no statistically significant reduction in infant IgE-mediated egg or peanut allergy at 1 year: RR 0.93, 95% CI 0.69 to 1.26, P=0.65. The profile does not independently verify journal placement, but the scientific claim is supported.

1

Study evidence

No significant difference in the proportion of infants with IgE-mediated egg or peanut allergy at 1 year between maternal high egg-peanut diet and standard diet.Relative risk 0.93 (95% CI 0.69 to 1.26), P = 0.65

“In this multisite, randomized trial… Participants were assigned in a 1:1 ratio to follow either a diet high in eggs and peanuts… or a standard (control) egg and peanut diet…”
Claim 5 of 6SupportedAustralian researchers tested whether greater exposure to egg and peanut before birth and during breastfeeding could help shape food tolerance before infants begin eating these allergens themselves.View evidenceHide evidence

Why this verdict

The abstract-level profile supports that the trial tested a maternal high egg-and-peanut diet during pregnancy and lactation as a prevention strategy for infant IgE-mediated egg or peanut allergy. The mechanistic wording about shaping tolerance is speculative and consistent with the stated rationale that early immune responses and prenatal/lactational exposure were being investigated.

1

Study evidence

No significant difference in the proportion of infants with IgE-mediated egg or peanut allergy at 1 year between maternal high egg-peanut diet and standard diet.Relative risk 0.93 (95% CI 0.69 to 1.26), P = 0.65

“In this multisite, randomized trial… Participants were assigned in a 1:1 ratio to follow either a diet high in eggs and peanuts… or a standard (control) egg and peanut diet…”
Claim 6 of 6SupportedIgE-mediated egg or peanut allergy occurred in 83 of 1,066 infants (7.8%) in the high egg-peanut group and 89 of 1,064 infants (8.4%) in the standard-diet group, with no statistically significant difference in combined risk.View evidenceHide evidence

As stated7.8% versus 8.4%

Why this verdict

The stated event counts and percentages match the profile: 83/1066 infants, 7.8%, in the high egg-peanut group versus 89/1064, 8.4%, in the standard-diet group. The profile also reports no significant difference in the combined primary outcome, RR 0.93, 95% CI 0.69 to 1.26, P=0.65.

1

Study evidence

No significant difference in the proportion of infants with IgE-mediated egg or peanut allergy at 1 year between maternal high egg-peanut diet and standard diet.Relative risk 0.93 (95% CI 0.69 to 1.26), P = 0.65

“In this multisite, randomized trial… Participants were assigned in a 1:1 ratio to follow either a diet high in eggs and peanuts… or a standard (control) egg and peanut diet…”
Then look for missing context

Context layer

What the story carried across

Nothing material from the study was dropped.

5 things the story did carry across
  • Primary study question: whether prescribing high maternal egg and peanut intake during pregnancy and lactation reduces infant IgE-mediated egg or peanut allergy at 1 year compared with a standard diet.
  • Randomized trial design with approximately 1:1 allocation to high egg-peanut versus standard egg/peanut diet.
  • Study population restricted to pregnancies at increased familial risk of allergic disease, defined in the profile as an unborn child with at least two biologic family members with medically diagnosed allergic disease.
  • Main efficacy finding: no statistically significant difference in IgE-mediated egg or peanut allergy at 1 year, with 7.8% versus 8.4% and RR 0.93, 95% CI 0.69 to 1.26, P=0.65.
  • Safety finding: abstract reports that safety measures were similar between the high egg-peanut and standard-diet groups.
Then read the study layer

Study layer

Study at a glance

Scan the study first. Expand only the parts you want to inspect.

Pieces of work

2

Evidence read

study summary

Lead result

human in vivo

1Lead resulthuman in vivoTest whether a maternal diet high in eggs and peanuts during pregnancy and lactation reduces IgE-mediated egg or peanut allergy in infants at 1 year of age compared with a standard (lower) egg/peanut diet.Multisite parallel-group randomized controlled trialExpand

In plain English

Multisite randomized trial (PrEggNut) assessed whether prescribing a high maternal intake of eggs and peanuts from before 23 weeks' gestation through 4 months postpartum reduced the risk of IgE-mediated egg or peanut allergy in offspring at 1 year, compared with a standard (lower) egg/peanut diet. No significant difference in the primary outcome was observed.

Key findings

  • No significant difference in the proportion of infants with IgE-mediated egg or peanut allergy at 1 year between maternal high egg-peanut diet and standard diet.Relative risk 0.93 (95% CI 0.69 to 1.26), P = 0.65
  • Safety measures were similar between the high egg-peanut and standard-diet groups.
“In this multisite, randomized trial… Participants were assigned in a 1:1 ratio to follow either a diet high in eggs and peanuts… or a standard (control) egg and peanut diet…”
What this piece can’t prove
  • Population restricted to pregnancies at increased familial risk of allergic disease (≥2 biologic family members with diagnosed allergic disease), which may affect generalizability.

1 further detail could not be confirmed from the summary.

2human in vivoAssess safety/tolerability of prescribing high maternal egg and peanut intake during pregnancy and lactation (maternal/infant safety measures).randomized trial harms comparisonExpand

In plain English

In this randomized multisite trial (PrEggNut), investigators compared maternal diets high versus standard in eggs and peanuts from before 23 weeks' gestation through 4 months postpartum and reported that safety measures were similar between groups.

Key findings

  • The abstract reports that safety measures were similar in the high egg–peanut and standard-diet groups.
“Safety measures were similar in the two groups.”
What this piece can’t prove

2 further details could not be confirmed from the summary.

Finally, the search trail

Method layer

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Papers considered

The selected paper, plus nearby candidates.

PubMed, Europe PMC, Crossref · 15 candidate papers

CandidateOpen access

Prenatal, Perinatal and Postnatal Exposures and Clinical Factors of Food Allergy Prevention: A Review for the First 1000 Days of Life from the SIAIP Primary and Secondary Prevention of Allergic Diseases Commission.

Nutrients · 2026 · PubMed, Europe PMC

Tessa (opens in a new tab)Source (opens in a new tab)
Candidate

Review for "Use of an Egg Ladder for home egg introduction in children with IgE mediated egg allergy"

2021 · Crossref

Source (opens in a new tab)

And 9 more candidates considered.