Food allergy is a chronic public health problem affecting as many as 8–10% of children with no present cure or treatment. Associate Editor of Evidence-Based Medicine Joshua Fenton brings the subject to this podcast with Matthew Greenhawt (Section of Allergy and Immunology, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, USA) and Carina Venter (Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Cincinnatti Children's Hospital, Ohio, USA). Dr Greenhawt and Dr Venter are the authors of a commentary on the paper “EAT Study Team. Randomized trial of introduction of allergenic foods in breast-fed infants”, published by The New England Journal of Medicine in 2016. The study suggests that early allergen introduction in standard risk, exclusively breastfed infants is associated with small possible benefits without evidence of harm. The details of the EAT and the LEAP trials are discussed in this interview, which finishes with some important advice for parents. “Having your cake and EATing it too: early timing of multiple allergen introduction does not increase the risk of developing food allergy in standard risk, breastfed infants” can be read at the EBM website: ebm.bmj.com/content/22/2/60.

Early allergen introduction in standard risk babies does not increase the risk of food allergy

In this second Evidence-Based Medicine podcast, Associate Editor Terrence Shaneyfelt interviews Salim Virani, from the Health Services Research and Development, Houston, USA. Professor Virani is the leading author of the systematic review with meta analysis, "Aspirin reduces cardiovascular events in primary prevention of cardiovascular disease but at a near equivalent risk of increased bleeding". Read the article here: http://ebm.bmj.com/content/early/2016/10/25/ebmed-2016-110531.extract.

Aspirin: benefits and risks in cardiovascular disease

Does alcohol consumption really help prevent coronary heart disease in older women? What are the adverse effects of its intake on the risk of developing breast cancer? In this podcast, Professor Tim Stockwell, director of the Centre for Addictions Research of British Columbia, University of Victoria, Canada, tries to answer these questions. He is the author of a commentary published in the EBM journal (ebm.bmj.com) on the paper, “Five year change in alcohol intake and risk of breast cancer and coronary heart disease among postmenopausal women: prospective cohort study”, published by The BMJ. Tim Stockwell tells the Editor-in-Chief of EBM, Richard Saitz, the findings of this particular research conducted over an 11-year period need to be interpreted with caution and are not “as compelling as the authors suggest they are”. The Professor of Psychology whose research interests include measurement of alcohol consumption and related harms argues that there is evidence “to be skeptical about protective effects of drinking” alcohol. Therefore, a complete set of studies in this area is needed. A commentary on the cohort study “Late-life increases in alcohol consumption among postmenopausal women appear associated with greater breast cancer risk and less coronary heart disease risk”, by Professor Tim Stockwell, can be read here: http://ebm.bmj.com/content/early/2016/08/23/ebmed-2016-110503.full and found in the October 2016 issue of EBM. The research paper “Five year change in alcohol intake and risk of breast cancer and coronary heart disease among postmenopausal women: prospective cohort study” is available here: http://www.bmj.com/content/353/bmj.i2314.full.

Changes in alcohol intake: effects on risk of coronary heart disease or breast cancer in older women

Evidence-Based Medicine systematically searches a wide range of international medical journals applying strict criteria for the validity of research. Content is critically appraised then the most clinically relevant articles are summarised into an expert commentary focusing on the papers clinical applicability. Evidence-Based Medicine podcasts publish with each new issue and contain interviews with the leading experts, discussing topical papers in an easily digestible format. http://ebm.bmj.com/ * The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. The content of this podcast does not constitute medical advice and it is not intended to function as a substitute for a healthcare practitioner’s judgement, patient care or treatment. The views expressed by contributors are those of the speakers. BMJ does not endorse any views or recommendations discussed or expressed on this podcast. Listeners should also be aware that professionals in the field may have different opinions. By listening to this podcast, listeners agree not to use its content as the basis for their own medical treatment or for the medical treatment of others.

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