There is a gradual increase in the frequency of allergic diseases, to prevent the advance would be relevant to the health and general welfare of Western societies. Among the hypotheses that are managed to explain the recent increase of such diseases include improving general hygiene and a reduction in family size. This reduces exposure to microbes in early life stages, which prevents children from developing its defenses.
Probiotics are colonies of bacteria, potentially beneficial outside the normal intestinal microflora. It evaluated the effect of a strain of this type of bacteria, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus GG also called on allergies. Moreover, it was found that the administration of this lactobacillus during early life is also safe and effective for the treatment of inflammatory allergic disease and food allergies.
In one investigation, Lactobacillus GG was given prenatally to a group of mothers who had a family history of allergy (at least one first-degree relative who suffered from atopic eczema, allergic rhinitis or asthma). He was also administered as 6 months postnatal.
The children were screened in a physician at ages three, six, twelve and eighteen months. At the end of two years of age, were classified as allergic diseases had experienced or not.
Of 132 children studied, 46 (35 percent) were diagnosed with atopic eczema, asthma and 6 cases showed a single case, allergic rhinitis. The frequency of atopic eczema in the group receiving probiotics (15, 64 -23 percent) was half that of those receiving placebo (31 percent-68 -46).
The results show that Lactobacillus GG is effective in preventing allergic diseases in the early years in children at high risk. Thus, the gut microflora could be an untapped source of regulators of immunity and probiotics, for prevention of allergic diseases.
The notion of using probiotics in primary prevention of allergic diseases is based on the ability of these to reverse the increased permeability of the intestinal wall, so characteristic in children with atopic eczema and food allergy. Probiotics also promote specific antibody response, which is often deficient in children with food allergies. In addition, they reinforce the protective barrier function of the intestinal wall and restore normal bowel microecology, changes that frequently occur in people with allergies.
