Immune-supportive Diet and Gut Permeability in Allergic Children

Peanut and nut allergy can be life threatening. Some patients have very low threshold levels (i.e. the amounts of peanut and nuts to which the patients react), others react to higher doses. The reasons for these differences in threshold are not well understood. Patients with peanut and nut allergy often suffer from other allergic diseases (atopic dermatitis, hay fever and asthma). A disturbed gut microbiota composition and an increased gut permeability may explain the development of allergic disease. We hypothesize that increased gut permeability is related to low threshold levels to peanuts or nuts. In addition, as it is known that nutrition can influence our gut permeability, we also hypothesize that a healthful immune-supportive diet restores gut permeability and alleviates symptoms. Therefore, the purpose of the study is to study in peanut and nut allergic children: 1. the relationship between gut permeability and threshold levels to peanut or nuts; 2. the effect of an immune-supportive diet on gut permeability, gut microbiome composition, coexisting allergic symptoms and quality of life