Probiotics, the Immune System & Allergies

A recent British study has strengthened evidence that the health of the gut can carry great influence on the immune system and the overall wellness of the body. When given a natural probiotic, which builds up beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract, patients experienced a reduction of certain antibodies that typically trigger the common allergic reaction known as hay fever.

As is often the case with natural substances, the study also found that the natural probiotic provided a boost in the number of antibodies that act to prevent allergies. We in the natural medicine field are always preaching about prevention being the best medicine, but actually it is not an idea that is original with us. We are simply agreeing with the natural order instituted by our Creator. Remember, we are designed first to stay well, and then secondly to heal if disease should occur.

When choosing a probiotic, look for a high quality product that will specifically target the needs of your digestive tract. Along with seasonal digestive tract cleansing and liver/gallbladder cleansing, I recommend Latero-Flora which contains a unique strain of Bacillus Laterosporus (B.O.D. STRAIN), a naturally occurring spore-bearing bacteria. Beware that there are many food companies that may label their products as having probiotic ingredients (perhaps even the milk product mentioned in the article below), but they typically fall short of providing true probiotic benefits.


Probiotics Can Help in the Treatment of Hay Fever
by Leslee Dru Browning

With the peak grass pollen season approaching, scientists have revealed that a daily dose of probiotics can change the immune status of people with hay fever. In the first human study of its kind, scientists at the Institute of Food Research found that probiotic bacteria in a daily drink can modify the immune system's response to grass pollen, a common cause of seasonal hay fever.

But they are not recommending that sufferers rush to the supermarket shelves just yet. The changes found may not have an immediate effect on symptoms.

"This was a pilot study based on small numbers of patients, but we were fascinated to discover a response", says research leader Professor Claudio Nicoletti. "The probiotic significantly reduced the production of molecules associated with allergy."

Hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen or fungal spores, most commonly grass pollen. The immune system mistakes the spores for harmful invaders and produces excessive amounts of the antibody IgE to bind to them and fight them off.

IgE stimulates the release of histamine to flush out the spores, and this irritates the airways making them swell, producing the symptoms of hay fever.

In this study, volunteers with a history of seasonal hay fever drank a daily milk drink with or without live bacteria over 5 months. The study was double-blinded and placebo controlled, so neither the volunteers nor the scientists knew who had been assigned the probiotic drinks. The probiotic drinks contained Lactobacillus casei, a bacterial species that has been widely studied for its health promoting properties.

Blood samples were taken before the grass pollen season, then again when it was at its peak (June), and 4 weeks after the end of season. There were no significant differences in levels of IgE in the blood between the two groups at the start of the study, but IgE levels were lower in the probiotic group both at the peak season and afterwards.

At the same times, levels of the antibody IgG were higher, a type of antibody that in contrast to IgE is thought to play a protective role against allergic reactions.

"The probiotic strain we tested changed the way the body's immune cells respond to grass pollen, restoring a more balanced immune response", says Dr. Kamal Ivory, a senior member of the group.

The changes observed may also reduce the severity of symptoms, but clinical symptoms were not measured in this study. That is one aim of further research.

"These are really interesting results", says Dr. Linda Thomas, head of science at Yakult U.K., who provided the drinks and some of the funding. "We are delighted that independent scientists found evidence of this biological activity. The project was part of ongoing research into the benefits of our probiotic strain. The Institute of Food Research is well positioned to do this kind of fundamental research, as it is unique in having the right combination of expertise in microbiology, immunology, flow cytometry and human nutrition research."

Professor Nicoletti's group intend to perform a similar study in the near future to see if the immunological changes translate into a real reduction in the clinical symptoms of hay fever. They would also like to examine the mechanisms involved.

With more and more research revealing the benefits of probiotics I believe it would be beneficial for anyone suffering from allergies or digestion problems to add them in their diet. Probiotics have also been shown to help people who suffer from food allergies. They are available over-the-counter in capsule form.

Journal reference:
Ivory et al. Oral delivery of Lactobacillus casei Shirota modifies allergen-induced immune responses in allergic rhinitis. Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2008; 0 (0): 080528223344047 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2008.03025.x

Source:
Institute of Food Research
(http://www.ifr.ac.uk/)

About the author
Leslee Dru Browning is a 6th generation Medical Herbalist & Nutritionist from the ancestral line of Patty Bartlett Sessions; Pioneer Mid-Wife & Herbalist. Leslee practiced Medical Herbalism and Nutritional Healing for over 25 years and specialized in Cancer Wellness along with Chronic Illness. She now devotes her career to teaching people, through her writing, about Natural Healing from An Herbal Perspective.

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