Peanut oil in vitamin A and D preparations: Reactions to skin test and manifestation of symptoms

The aim of this study was to establish whether there is a link between sens itisation to peanut and exposure to peanut oil in vitamin A and D preparati ons. Forty-one children with a positive in vivo or in vitro test towards pe anut were included. Twenty-one children had consumed vitamins A and D in oi l solution, 14 in water solution, and 6 both types. Refined and unrefined p eanut oils were obtained and skin prick test extracts were prepared. None o f the children exhibited a positive SPT in response to the refined peanut e xtract. In contrast, 15 children exhibited a positive SPT to the unrefined extract. There was no significant difference in the number of children reac ting clinically to peanut exposure who had received vitamins A and D in oil -based or water-based formulations. However, children with clinical allergy to peanut and who had exclusively consumed vitamin A and D in peanut oil, exhibited a greater number of different allergic symptoms upon consumption of peanut compared with clinical allergic children who had consumed the vit amins in water solution or both types (p<0.01). This study indicates that s ensitisation to peanut during childhood through consumption of vitamins A a nd D in oil-based solution seems unlikely, but its consumption may contribu te to the development of a wider range of clinical symptoms due to peanut e xposure.