Childhood allergies have increased significantly in industrialized countries
during the past few decades. Researchers theorize that this rising
incidence is the result of a lowered exposure to bacteria in early
childhood. This exposure to microbes appears to be essential in
jump-starting the immune system to develop healthy pathways that do not
result in allergic conditions.
Additionally, it’s been observed that infants who develop allergies
have intestinal bacteria that are distinctly different from those of
non-allergic infants, suggesting that the type of intestinal microflora
is an important factor in forming allergic conditions.
In a study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
(online January 2009) researchers from the University and University
Central Hospital of Helsinki conducted a clinical trial of more than
1200 mothers whose infants would be at high risk to develop allergies.
During the last month of their pregnancies, the mothers took daily
doses of a probiotic mixture or a placebo, and their infants were given
the same probiotic mixture plus a prebiotic or a placebo for the first
6 months of their lives. The children were followed for 5 years and
evaluated for incidence of allergic diseases.
The authors found that the frequencies of allergic and IgE-associated
allergic disease and sensitization were similar in the children who had
received probiotic and those who’d gotten placebo. Although there
appeared to be a preventive effect at age 2, there was none noted at
age 5. Interestingly, in babies born by cesarean section, the
researchers found less IgE-associated allergic disease in those who had
received the probiotic.
“No allergy-preventive effect is extended to age 5 years by perinatal
supplementation with probiotics in babies at risk for developing
allergies; protection is conferred only to C-section babies”, says Dr.
Mikael Kuitunen from the University Central Hospital of Helsinki.
“However, it is possible that stronger and longer stimulation of the
infant immune system possibly by varying the strains of bacteria, may
result in better allergy-preventive effects.”
during the past few decades. Researchers theorize that this rising
incidence is the result of a lowered exposure to bacteria in early
childhood. This exposure to microbes appears to be essential in
jump-starting the immune system to develop healthy pathways that do not
result in allergic conditions.
Additionally, it’s been observed that infants who develop allergies
have intestinal bacteria that are distinctly different from those of
non-allergic infants, suggesting that the type of intestinal microflora
is an important factor in forming allergic conditions.
In a study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
(online January 2009) researchers from the University and University
Central Hospital of Helsinki conducted a clinical trial of more than
1200 mothers whose infants would be at high risk to develop allergies.
During the last month of their pregnancies, the mothers took daily
doses of a probiotic mixture or a placebo, and their infants were given
the same probiotic mixture plus a prebiotic or a placebo for the first
6 months of their lives. The children were followed for 5 years and
evaluated for incidence of allergic diseases.
The authors found that the frequencies of allergic and IgE-associated
allergic disease and sensitization were similar in the children who had
received probiotic and those who’d gotten placebo. Although there
appeared to be a preventive effect at age 2, there was none noted at
age 5. Interestingly, in babies born by cesarean section, the
researchers found less IgE-associated allergic disease in those who had
received the probiotic.
“No allergy-preventive effect is extended to age 5 years by perinatal
supplementation with probiotics in babies at risk for developing
allergies; protection is conferred only to C-section babies”, says Dr.
Mikael Kuitunen from the University Central Hospital of Helsinki.
“However, it is possible that stronger and longer stimulation of the
infant immune system possibly by varying the strains of bacteria, may
result in better allergy-preventive effects.”
