Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Babies on probiotics have significantly lower allergies: study

Infants exposed to probiotics (lactobacillus strain) through dietary supplements from 35 weeks' gestation through 2 years of age had a significantly lower risk for eczema and rhinoconjunctivitis. The protective effect lasted until the children were at least 4 years of age, according to a study published in Clinical and Experimental Allergy.

425 infants were followed for 4 years after daily supplementation with probiotic or placebo. Mothers received supplements from 35 weeks' gestation until their child's birth, continuing to 6 months after birth if they were breast-feeding, and all infants received supplements from birth until age 2 years.

The cumulative prevalence of eczema by age 4 years was significantly reduced in the children taking the probiotics compared with children in the placebo group. The prevalence of rhinoconjunctivitis at age 4 years. In addition to significantly reducing the risk of eczema by 4 years of age, the use of the probiotic also provided some protection against wheeze and atopic sensitization.

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