H. pylori reduces the risk of allergic disease – 08/11

Previous studies have suggested that gastro-intestinal infections may influence asthma and allergy, and a study from the Universities of Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) and Nottingham (UK) has investigated this with data gathered from 878 children who were previously in a population-based Ethiopian birth cohort. Allergen skin tests were performed, the children’s bedding was tested and their stools were analysed for worms (geohelminths) and various stomach bacteria including enterococci, lactobacilli, H. pylori and bifidobacteria.

They found that H. pylori infection was associated with a borderline significant reduced risk of eczema. The scientists concluded that their results support the hypothesis of a protective effect of H. pylori against the risk of allergic disease, but further investigation is needed.

Source: PubMed

Lactobacilli decrease risk of allergy in children with allergic heredity – 08/11

A study from the Arrhenius Laboratories for Natural Sciences at the Department of Immunology at Stockholm University in Sweden has explored the influence microbial deprivation in early life can have on immune mediated disease development such as allergy. They looked at the relationship between parental allergy and the gut colonisation of bacteria in infants, as well as the infant gut microbiota and allergic disease at five years old.

The study involved collecting fecal samples from 58 infants with allergic or non-allergic parents, at 1 and two weeks, 1,2 and 12 months of life. The scientists looked for strains of bacteria such as Bifidobacterium (B.) adolescentis, B. breve, B. bifidum, Clostridium (C.) difficile, a group of Lactobacilli (Lactobacillus (L.) casei, L. paracasei and L. rhamnosus) as well as Staphylococcus (S.) aureus. Those infants with non-allergic parents had more lactobacilli, but non-allergic five year olds acquired these specific bacteria more frequently in their first weeks of life irrespective of parental allergy. More non-allergic children were colonised by B. bifidum at one week of age than the allergic five year olds.

They concluded that heredity for allergy has an impact on gut microbiota in infants, but that early colonisation of the group of Lactobacilli decreases the risk of allergy in children at five years of age in spite of allergic heredity.

Click here for LINKS to manufacturers of nutrition and food supplements.

First Published in August 2011

Top of page