The TreEat Study- Can Early Introduction of Tree Nuts Prevent Tree Nut Allergy in Infants With Peanut Allergy

NCT04801823 | Completed Phase 3 DMC

• 1 other identifier: 70489
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 212
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Early and regular ingestion of the common allergens, peanut and egg has been shown to be an effective allergy prevention strategy. It is not clear whether this is also true of tree nut allergy. Current practice in many Australian allergy clinics for children with peanut allergy (high risk of tree nut allergy), is to advise families to introduce each individual tree nut into their child's diet via a cautious home introduction protocol without prior allergy testing (screening). The safety and effectiveness of an early and regular ingestion strategy for the prevention of tree nut allergy has not been formally evaluated and it is known that around a third of children with peanut allergy develop one or more other nut allergies. This trial is a 2-armed, open-label, randomized, controlled trial (RCT) to assess the safety and efficacy of a supervised hospital based multi-tree nut (almond, cashew, hazelnut and walnut) oral food challenge (OFC) + then home introduction of the remaining tree nuts versus standard care (home introduction of all 8 tree nuts) in infants with peanut allergy to reduce the risk of developing tree nut allergy.

Conditions

Nut Allergy; Food Allergy in Infants

Keywords

food allergy; nut allergy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Difference between the two treatment arms in the proportion of participants with clinical confirmed tree nut allergy at 18 months of age

  Tree nut allergy outcomes at 18 months will be defined as: 1. Allergic - has evidence of tree nut sensitization (SPT\>=3mm) and has had a reaction consistent with IgE (immunoglobulin E) mediated food allergy OR positive formal OFC 2. Tree nut tolerant- successfully tolerated the tree nut at home on more than 3 occasions of at least 1 teaspoon of nut per occasion OR has had a negative formal OFC. 3. Inconclusive -has an unknown outcome as ingestion has not occurred and participant declines OFC.

  18 months of age

Secondary Outcomes (8)

• Difference between the two treatment arms in the proportion of participants with ongoing peanut allergy at 18 months of age

  18 months of age

• Difference between the two treatment arms in the proportion and severity of reported adverse events (AE) related to tree nut ingestion.

  18 months of age

• Difference between the two treatment arms in the proportion and severity of solicited AEs related to tree nut ingestion.

  18 months of age

• Difference between the 2 treatment arms in the number of tree nuts ingested.

  18 months of age

• Difference between the 2 treatment arms in the frequency of tree nuts ingested.

  18 months of age

Study Arms (2)

Home Introduction of Individual tree nuts

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Current standard of care which is to advise families of infants diagnosed with peanut allergy to introduce tree nuts individually via a standardized, graded and cautious home introduction protocol. Day 1: smear of nut paste to the inside of lip; Day 2: 1/8 teaspoon; Day 3: 1/4 teaspoon; Day 4: 1/2 teaspoon; Day 5: 1 teaspoon. Repeat process with each individual tree nut.

Other: Home introduction

In hospital multi-tree nut (almond, cashew hazelnut and walnut) oral food challenge (OFC)

EXPERIMENTAL

Infant will be booked for a 4-nut butter (Almond, Hazelnut, Walnut, and Cashew) graded and supervised OFC in the allergy clinical trials unit at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute. The nut butter contains a 1g dose of each nut protein in a total weight of 20g. Doses will be administered every 15minutes (1. Smear to inside of lip, 2.1/8 teaspoon, 3.1/4 teaspoon, 4.1/2 teaspoon, 5.1 teaspoon, 6.remainder of 20g nut butter paste) If challenge negative, infants continue home introduction of tree nuts as per written instructions provided. If challenge positive, infants will have additional SPT (for full tree nut panel) and single tree nut OFC as per protocol to determine tolerance/allergic status (and +/- home introduction recommendation) for each tree nut.

Other: Multi Nut oral food challenge

Interventions

Home introduction OTHER

Cautious, graded introduction of individual tree nuts

Home Introduction of Individual tree nuts

Multi Nut oral food challenge OTHER

In hospital multi nut oral food challenge (almond, cashew, hazelnut, walnut)

In hospital multi-tree nut (almond, cashew hazelnut and walnut) oral food challenge (OFC)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 4 Months - 11 Months
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Infants aged greater than 4 months and less than 11 months of age diagnosed with IgE-mediated peanut allergy in conjunction with a positive SPT (≥3mm) or sIgE (specific immunoglobulin E) (\>0.35 kU/L)

You may not qualify if:

• Any history of severe food induced anaphylaxis. Defined as reaction requiring 2 doses of intramuscular (IM) adrenaline.
• Pre-existing tree nut allergy (parent-reported).
• Any tree nut already tolerated (ingestion on \>3 occasions without reaction of around 1 teaspoon)
• SPT or sIgE performed to any tree nuts
• Not commenced or unable to eat solid food
• Prescribed beta-blocker medication

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Murdoch Childrens Research Institute: lead

Study Sites (1)

Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI)

Melbourne, Victoria, 3052, Australia

Location

Related Publications (19)

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  PMID: 36974653 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Nut Hypersensitivity; Food Hypersensitivity

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Nut and Peanut Hypersensitivity; Hypersensitivity, Immediate; Hypersensitivity; Immune System Diseases

Study Officials

• Kirsten Perrett, MD. PhD

  Murdoch Childrens Research Institute

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: phase 3
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 12, 2021
• First Posted: March 17, 2021
• Study Start: June 1, 2021
• Primary Completion: June 29, 2025
• Study Completion: June 29, 2025
• Last Updated: February 19, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF
• Time Frame: 6 months after publication of primary outcome
• Access Criteria: Prior to releasing any data the following are required: a data access agreement must be signed between relevant parties, the TreEat trial investigators must see and approve the analysis plan describing how the data will be analyzed, there must be an agreement around appropriate acknowledgment and any additional costs involved must be covered.

Locations

AU (1)