North Carolina Researchers Work To Prevent Peanut Allergies

A Duke University study found that treatment can help children overcome their allergy.

Three years ago, Duke Dr. Wesley Burks began giving children one-one thousandth of a peanut.

That's enough to trigger a minor allergic response.

Slowly, he increased their dose.

Some of the children in the study can now eat 15 to 16 peanuts a day, without an allergic reaction.

Researchers say the therapy doesn't work for all children.

And they warn that you should never try this on your own.

Meanwhile, Triad researchers are also working to reduce peanut problems.

Researchers at NC A&T State University are working on allergy-free peanuts.

Right now, they're trying to figure out which treatments of the peanuts will remove the most allergens.

Once they determine that, researchers will perform lab tests on the peanuts' effect on white blood cells.

"That's a prelude to the next step which is a human trial in the form of skin testing or oral challenge to confirm that the product is safe to eat," says researcher Mohamed Ahmedna.

Researchers already received funding for the human trials.

They could start in about a year.

If the research goes as planned, companies could eventually sell reduced or hyper-allergenic peanuts and peanut products.