Is Peanut safe while breastfeeding?
Here is what NIH LactMed, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's authority on medicines and breastfeeding, reports about Peanut. This is a summary of that source — not our own verdict.
Effects on the breastfed infant
In a study on the infants of atopic parents, mothers were randomized either to standard infant feeding practices (n = 185) or to avoidance of peanuts and other food allergens during the third trimester of pregnancy and breastfeeding (n = 103). Testing at 12 months of age found a slightly reduced frequency of positive skin tests for peanut allergy in the avoidance group (n = 4) compared to the control group (n = 7), and no difference between the groups in the frequency of clinical allergy to peanuts.[ 17 ] In a case-control study, mothers of infants with peanut allergies (n = 202) or control infants (n = 201) were given a questionnaire to determine the extent of peanut ingestion during pregnancy and breastfeeding. No differences were noted in infant age, sex ratio, breastfeeding and several other variables. The mothers of peanut-allergic infants were 2.3 times more likely to have consumed peanuts during breastfeeding than mothers of the control infants, although peanut ingestion during pregnancy was a stronger predictor of peanut allergy.[ 18 ] In a cohort study, 503 infants with food allergies, but no reported peanut allergies, were assessed for peanut allergy based on IgE antibody levels against peanuts. Although a correlation was found between maternal ingestion of peanuts during pregnancy and later infant peanut allergy, no correlation was found with maternal ingestion during breastfeeding.[ 19 ] An analysis of a birth cohort study in Canada found that regardless of breastfeeding, sensitization was significantly less likely among infants consuming peanut, with 2.3% sensitized among those introduced to peanut early without breastfeeding and 2.8% sensitized among those introduced to peanut early while breastfeeding. Beginning at 3 years and especially at 5 years, the prevalence of sensitization was further reduced among children who had been introduced to peanut while breastfeeding.[ 10 ] In a pilot trial, nursing mothers were randomized to ingest either 20 or 60 p
Effects on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Levels in milk
Maternal Levels. Twenty-three nursing mothers consumed 50 grams of dry roasted peanuts after donating a baseline milk sample. Milk samples were then collected at various times over the next 12 hours. The peanut proteins Ara h 1 and Ara h 2 were detected in the breastmilk of 11 of the 23 women, with a mean peak concentration of 222 mcg/L. In most of the women with detectable peanut protein, the peak concentration occurred in the first 2 hours and was near baseline at 3 hours post ingestion, but one woman had a peak protein level 6 hours after ingestion; she and another woman still had detectable peanut protein in their milk 8 hours after peanut ingestion. No difference between the mothers who did and did not secrete peanut allergen in their milk was found in age, time postpartum or atopic history.[ 15 ] Two women ingested 30 grams of commercial roasted peanuts, either on an empty stomach or after breakfast on 5 occasions. Milk samples were collected for either 2 or 26 hours. In one woman, the peanut protein Ara h 6 was detectable in milk as early as 10 minutes after peanut ingestion on an empty stomach, with a peak concentration of 3.37 mcg/L. It declined thereafter but was still detectable 23 hours after ingestion. Taking the peanuts after a meal decreased and slightly delayed the concentrations in milk, with a concentration of 550 ng/L at 60 min post-feeding. In the other woman, the allergen was found as soon as 10 minutes after ingestion at about 10 ng/L, and a higher excretion peak was then observed between 40 and 60 minutes, reaching values above 200 ng/L. The allergens are bound to the IgE of peanut-sensitive patients. Ara h 6 IgG and Ara h 6 IgA immune complexes could also be detected in milk with a slight delay. IgA and IgG immune complexes followed similar kinetics over 24 hours, with a maximum of secretion observed at 220 minutes.[ 16 ] Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Source: NIH LactMed (National Library of Medicine).
Educational summary of an authoritative source — not medical advice. Never start, stop, or change a medicine while breastfeeding without confirming with your doctor.