The role of food ladder and whole food matrix

Dietary habits have been linked to many non-communicable diseases, and in recent years, studies have shown its relationship with allergic conditions. This is especially true when it comes to the timing and diversity of solid intakes in weaning infants, and how these became predictors in the development of food allergies and asthma.

The LEAP (Learning Early About Peanut Allergy) study has allowed the shift in avoidance to early to controlled exposure to peanuts to help protect high risk children from developing peanut allergy later in life.

In this discussion by Prof. Gary Wong, he details this change in recommendations for allergen introduction—such as timing and dosage, as well as supplementation of other compounds that may potentially modulate the early immune system and help support the development of allergies, including food allergies, asthma, and eczema.