New Toothpaste May Save People with Peanut Allergies from Severe Reactions
A new toothpaste containing tiny amounts of peanut may soon be saving people with peanut allergies from having severe reactions. The product, known as Oral Mucosal Immunotherapy (OMIT), aims to build patients’ immunity over time to desensitize them to peanuts and reduce the risk of severe allergic reactions.
According to allergy expert Dr. William Berger, who spoke at the annual scientific meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) in California, OMIT uses a specially formulated toothpaste to deliver allergenic peanut proteins to areas of the oral cavity. The toothpaste has shown great potential for food allergy desensitization, as it can desensitize patients without requiring numerous clinic visits over several years.
A small trial conducted by ACAAI included 32 people with peanut allergies, aged 18 to 55. The participants used the peanut toothpaste treatment and a placebo control in a 48-week trial. Safety was monitored throughout the trial, and participants were given blood tests to check their immune response to the allergen.
The trial yielded promising results, as every participant tolerated the highest dose of the peanut toothpaste without any moderate or severe systemic reactions. Some participants experienced mild and transient reactions, such as itchiness in the mouth, similar to that which occurs at injection sites when receiving shots.
Despite the promising results, there is no word yet on when the toothpaste might be ready for patients, as more testing is needed. Researchers and medical professionals are hopeful that the toothpaste may offer a new solution for people with peanut allergies and help improve their quality of life.