Allergies are immune system malfunctions. Harmless allergens including food, pollen, mold or dust are seen as threats and trigger the release of histamine, the chemical which causes itchy eyes and runny noses. Their epidemic growth globally has spurred a search for answers in the microbial world.
Here’s how probiotics help:
- Probiotics increase exposure to microbes, giving the body a chance to be “inoculated” against tough intruders.
- New babies display different microbes. Those with allergies have more clostridia and tend to have fewer bifidobacteria than non-atopic subjects.
- Probiotics boost the immune system by increasing regulatory T cells, which fight inflammation. Probiotics also affect B cells which make secretory immunoglobulins; this calms the overactive immune response, causing fewer allergic reactions.
Further reading on allergies and probiotics:
Early nutritional strategies for preventing allergic disease.
[Probiotics in the prevention and treatment of allergic diseases].
Role of gut microbiota in food tolerance and allergies.
New methods of prevention and treatment of allergic diseases.
The allergic march: can we prevent allergies and asthma?