| Giving
pregnant women and newborns doses of "good" bacteria
can protect the babies from developing eczema in childhood up
until the age of 4 years, according to a study.
Researchers were looking at the occurrence of atopic eczema,
a condition in which people are sensitive to allergens in
the environment that are harmless to others.
The incidence of atopic disease has been growing in developed
countries. One theory for the increase, which is known as
the hygiene hypothesis, is that children are exposed to a
lower level of bacteria, which affects the development of
their immune systems.
The study involved 107 children from families with a history
of eczema. Half of their mothers took Lactobacillus GG, a
type of bacteria found naturally in the gut, at the end of
their pregnancies and for six months after giving birth. The
other half took a placebo.
Children who had been exposed to the bacteria were 40 percent
less likely to develop atopic eczema by the age of four than
the other group.
Lactobacillus bacteria have been used in food fermentation
for some time and are commonly found in foods such as yogurt.
Foods and supplements that conatin Lactobacillus bacteria
are commonly referred to as probiotics.
In the study, however, the probiotics did not appear to have
a protective effect against asthma or rhinitis.
Although past studies have found that probiotics have favorable
effects on the gut and effects on the developing immune system,
researchers do not recommend that children or mothers take
probiotics until further evidence of their benefits has been
found.
Current
Opinion in Allergy and Clinical Immunology February, 2003;3(1):15-20
The
Lancet May 31, 2003;361:1869-1870
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