While more than 32 million Americans are fighting food allergyhealth advocates and officials are looking for the root cause, including examining the microbiome.
The Food Allergy Foundation (FAF) hosted a forum in Washington, D.C., on Monday, featuring HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, FDA Commissioner Martin McCulley, and NIH Director Jay Bhattacharyya.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, McCurry talked about how the function of the microbiome has evolved over time.
Eating blueberries early in life may alleviate allergies and strengthen immunity, new study finds
There are over 1 billion different cells in the intestine types of bacteriaMcCurry said they usually live in balance.
“But when modern diets, antibiotics, and other exposures change the balance, that imbalance can lead to inflammation, health problems, and may be linked to food allergies,” he added.
”gut health McCurry added that modern humans may be lacking some beneficial microorganisms due to changes in diet and environment, which may play a role in the rise in food allergies.
Researchers at Siolta Therapeutics are testing this theory. The company’s oral microbiome therapy STMC-103H showed promising results in a Phase 2 study of 238 newborns with a family history of allergies.
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Early data suggests this treatment can reduce the risk of developing food allergy This suggests that by improving gut bacteria early in life, it may be possible to prevent allergies before they develop.
Final results are expected in early 2026.
“Food allergies may be the canary in the coal mine of a larger microbiome-related health crisis,” FAF Founder and CEO Ilana Golant told FOX News Digital.
FAF launched the Food Allergy Fund Microbiome Collective in New York City to further explore how gut bacteria can help prevent and treat not only allergies but also autoimmune and immune diseases. neurodegenerative diseases.
“Solving allergies could reveal ways to prevent and treat a wide variety of diseases, from autoimmune diseases to neurodegeneration, that affect millions of lives,” Golant said.
According to FAF, food allergies are widespread, affecting one in 10 adults and one in 13 children. Someone is treated every three minutes in the United States. emergency room In case of severe allergic reactions.
Peanut allergy is one of the most common food allergies in the United States, and new research shows that introducing peanuts early can significantly reduce childhood allergies.
Secretary Kennedy said at the FAF meeting that food allergies, particularly those related to peanuts, appear to be much more common among the following people: kids today than when he was growing up.
“When I was growing up, I never met anyone with a peanut allergy,” Kennedy said. “I had 11 siblings and about 71 cousins, but I didn’t know anyone at school or at the camps I went to who had cousins.”
One of his sons has a severe anaphylactic allergy to peanuts, tree nuts and several other foods, he said.
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“By the time he was 2 years old, we had been to the emergency room about 22 times,” Kennedy said.
“At first, I was focused on how to treat and keep him safe. But my mind soon turned to the bigger question: Why is this happening? Five of my seven children have allergies,” he said.
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“There may be many causes, or there may be just one, but we don’t know yet,” Kennedy continued. “But we’re going to study it. We’re going to break that omerta, end that taboo, and find out what’s causing it.”
