Probiotics for Allergies?

Allergy season occurs annually, bringing misery to sufferers across the Western Hemisphere. However, recent evidence suggests that gut health plays a significant role in allergies. This article explores allergies, their various manifestations, and the impact of gut bacteria on their development.

 

What is an Allergy?

An allergy is the body’s reaction to a specific food or substance. It can encompass a range of reactions, from mild to life-threatening anaphylactic responses. Common food allergens, such as nuts and peanuts, are well-known examples. In the USA, legislation requires informing customers about the presence of eight major food allergens.

 

Types of Allergies:

Aside from food allergies, there are other types of allergies, including hay fever (grass and tree pollen), pet allergies (fur or skin), insect bites/stings, latex, medications, chemicals (e.g., hair dyes), and mold. These allergens are generally harmless to non-allergic individuals. It’s important to distinguish between food intolerance and food allergy. Intolerances can be unpleasant, while allergies can be life-threatening.

 

Allergy Symptoms:

Common allergy symptoms include sneezing, coughing, and itchy eyes, which can significantly impact daily life. More severe symptoms can be life-threatening and include skin rashes, facial swelling, shortness of breath, and difficulty swallowing. These rapid responses are associated with immunoglobulin E (IgE) reactions, necessitating complete avoidance of the allergen. Non-IgE responses are slower and can cause digestive issues like diarrhea, stomach cramps, and skin conditions like eczema.

 

Causes of Allergies:

Understanding the development of allergies requires identifying their causes. Factors such as gut health and the role of gut bacteria play a crucial role in allergy development.

By presenting the information in shorter paragraphs, using headings to guide readers, and simplifying complex sentences, the text becomes more easily digestible and enjoyable to read.

How Do Allergies Develop?

The development of allergies is still not fully understood, but it is a matter of great concern for the medical profession as these inappropriate physical responses are increasingly becoming a global issue.

The World Allergy Organization (WAO) warns that “the prevalence of allergic diseases worldwide is rising dramatically in both developed and developing countries.”

In particular, an increasing number of children are experiencing allergic symptoms, with the latest statistics indicating that over 50% of children in the United Kingdom now suffer from some form of allergy. Evidence suggests that babies born via Caesarean section have an increased risk of developing allergies later in life. A natural vaginal birth exposes babies to bacteria from their mother as they pass through the birth canal, which plays an important role in the development of the immune system and gut microbiota. You may like to read our article: Pregnancy and the Vaginal Microflora.

Additionally, babies who are not breastfed miss out on the 700 different species of bacteria present in breast milk. Coupled with the increased use of antibiotics for childhood illnesses such as tonsillitis and ear infections, babies often do not develop the strong colonies of beneficial flora that they need to support a strong immune system. Antibiotics administered in the first year of a child’s life have been shown to increase their likelihood of developing an allergy by as much as 50%.

Certain individuals seem to be more predisposed to allergy development: the medical profession terms these people ‘atopic.’ The word ‘atopic’ is derived from the Greek language and means something ‘out of place’ or ‘unusual’ – this predisposition to be ‘different’ appears to be genetic and can run in families.

Considering that most of our beneficial gut flora is initially passed on to us from our mothers via the birth canal during natural childbirth, this predisposition could be traced back to a family history of unbalanced gut flora. Research is beginning to suggest that supporting gut health through the use of live cultures may help prevent so-called atopic symptoms such as eczema.

There is also the theory that allergies are a consequence of the diet, lifestyle, and environment that have become common in Western societies. A diet consisting of processed foods, coupled with stressful lifestyles and little to no contact with a natural environment, limits our exposure to naturally occurring bacteria and is thought to be a major contributing factor to the rise in allergies. Scientists believe that this combination of factors may impact the diversity of our microbiome as well as our immune systems. This idea has been coined as the ‘hygiene hypothesis,’ which we’ve discussed frequently here.

A study5 of 1,879 American adults has found further evidence to support the hypothesis. Researchers from the American National Institutes of Health sought to find out why an altered gut microbiota may increase the risk of developing allergies and other conditions. They analyzed questionnaires from participants, which asked them to self-report their history of allergies, as well as fecal samples from each individual.

The researchers found that out of the 1,879 participants, 81.5% reported having one or more allergies. This ranged from only 2.5% having a peanut allergy to 40.5% self-reporting a seasonal allergy such as hay fever. They compared questionnaire results with fecal sample results and found that those with allergies had less diversity in their gut bacteria. In fact, the more allergies an individual had, the less diversity they observed in their gut bacteria.

Among single allergies, gut microbiota diversity was lowest in those with hay fever or peanut allergies. The scientists were able to identify that these individuals had lower levels of Clostridiales bacteria and increased levels of Bacteroidales. The researchers concluded that gut microbiota intervention through the potential use of probiotics may help in the treatment or prevention of such allergies.

 

Can You Grow Out of an Allergy?

There is some evidence that children can outgrow certain food allergies, but the rates of this happening for peanut and nut allergies are low, ranging from 20-10%. Other types of allergies, such as eczema, are more common in childhood and often resolve by the teenage years but can have relapses. Parents can be frustrated when a distressing condition for their child is not taken seriously because it is believed that the child will outgrow it.

 

Do Probiotics Help with Allergies?

For most people, it is not immediately clear how supplementing with probiotics could help individuals with allergies. However, this question is interesting because 70% of our immune cells are located in our intestinal tract, and our resident gut microbiome not only interacts with the immune system but can also help regulate its responses – truly incredible!

Best Probiotic Strains for Allergies

One of the most extensively researched strains for allergies is Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM®. In a study, this strain was given to individuals with allergic rhinitis caused by birch pollen9.

Other studies have assessed the effectiveness of Lactobacillus rhamnosus CGMCC against peanut allergy and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG® against eczema and other atopic conditions10. Healthcare practitioners can find more information about Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG® through the provided link.

Histamine intolerance, which can cause allergic symptoms, may be related to issues such as intestinal permeability (leaky gut) and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). Some research suggests that certain probiotic strains can help alleviate histamine intolerance by regulating IgE and histamine receptors, promoting anti-inflammatory agents, and supporting gut health11. Healthcare practitioners can refer to our information page on probiotics for histamine intolerance for more details.

While probiotics may help improve digestion and tolerance to certain foods in cases of food intolerances, it is important for allergic patients to always avoid trigger foods to prevent allergic reactions.

It is worth noting that allergies, especially among children, are a growing concern. Low diversity of gut bacteria has been observed in people with allergies. Allergies can have serious and potentially life-threatening consequences, leading to the implementation of legislation to protect individuals from known allergens.

Understanding the distinction between allergies and intolerances is crucial, as both can significantly impact sufferers. Unfortunately, some individuals with allergies may feel that their symptoms are not taken seriously, and it is important to provide them with appropriate support.

While most beneficial bacteria can potentially have a positive effect on immune function by improving gut health, the research in this field is rapidly evolving. New information about different bacterial strains and their potential for allergies continues to emerge, and future research may provide further insights into the use of probiotics for allergies.