More evidence for pro, prebiotics preventing eczema

The research, published in the Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, is said to be the first to link the prevalence of eczema to specific gut bacteria, and “thus supporting the important role of commensal bacteria in the pathogenesis of eczema.”

Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis (AD), is one of the first signs of allergy during the early days of life and is said to be due to delayed development of the immune system.

Infants from 1223 randomized pregnant women showed a 26 per cent reduction in eczema, while atopic eczema was reduced by 34 per cent from a specific probiotic, prebiotic mixture that was adminstered to the women for a two-week period before birth.

The researchers said that continued follow-up on these same infants will show if this effect is maintained later in life, and if any impact on airway allergies such as asthma is observed.