Allergies

Allergic Symptoms Decreased in Adults by Yogurt: In a 1-year, randomized study of adults ages 20-40 and 55-70, those consuming 1 cup per day of live-culture yogurt vs. a pasteurized yogurt vs. no yogurt found that yogurt consumption, especially for the live-culture groups, was associated with a decrease in allergic symptoms in both age groups. The influence of chronic yogurt consumption on immunity. Van de Water J, Keen CL, Gershwin ME. J Nutr. 1999 Jul;129(7 Suppl):1492S-5S

Allergic Rhinitis: Even Heat-Treated Lactobacillus Can Help Children: Live Lactobacillus paracasi 33 (LP33) may effectively improve the quality of life for children with perennial allergic rhinitis. It has been demonstrated that heat-killed lactic acid bacteria (LAB) suppress specific immunoglobulin E synthesis and stimulate interleukin-12 production in animals. In a 30-day DB PC study of 90 patients with allergic rhinitis induced by house-dust-mite, groups A and B received two capsules per day of live or heat-killed LAB (5 x 10(9) colony-forming units/capsule), while those in Group C received placebo capsules. Groups A and B rhinoconjunctivitis-related quality of life improved, as compared with the placebo group, in terms of both frequency (9.47, 6.30, vs. -3.47; p < 0.0001) and level of bother (5.91, 6.04, vs. -2.80; p = 0.004). The efficacy and safety of heat-killed Lactobacillus paracasei for treatment of perennial allergic rhinitis induced by house-dust mite. Peng GC, et al. China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2005 Aug;16(5):433-8.

Allergic Rhinitis Patients Helped: In a very small crossover study of 13 patients with nasal allergies and 7 healthy controls with all consuming two cups of yogurt or two cups of skimmed milk each for a four month period found yogurt feeding appeared to improve or prevent allergic recurrences in rhinopathic patients. Effects of dietary yoghurt on immunological and clinical parameters of rhinopathic patients. Aldinucci C, Bellussi L, Monciatti G, Passali GC, Salerni L, Passali D, Bocci V. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2002 Dec;56(12):1155-61

Allergic Rhinitis and Hayfever Less with Yogurt Consumption: In a study of 293 New Zealand farm children ages 7-10, inverse associations were found for early-life exposures: at least weekly consumption of yogurt with hayfever (odds ratio (OR) = 0.3) and allergic rhinitis (OR = 0.3); any unpasteurized milk consumption with atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome (AEDS) (OR = 0.2); cats inside or outside with hayfever (OR = 0.4) and AEDS (OR = 0.4); dogs inside or outside with asthma (OR = 0.4). Farm residence and exposures and the risk of allergic diseases in New Zealand children. Wickens K, Lane JM, Fitzharris P, Siebers R, Riley G, Douwes J, Smith T, Crane J. Allergy. 2002 Dec;57(12):1171-9

Allergic Rhinitis Helped: Ingestion of fermented milk containing Lactobacillus paracasei-33 (LP-33), a strain newly isolated from the human intestinal tract, was used in a DB PC study of 80 patients with 60 drinking the yogurt-type milk daily for 30 days. Scores for the overall quality of life significantly decreased in the LP-33 group as compared with the placebo group, in both frequency (-16.02 vs. -7.27; p = 0.037) and level of bother (-16.35 vs. -6.20; p = 0.022). Subjects reported no severe adverse effects. Treatment of perennial allergic rhinitis with lactic acid bacteria. Wang MF, Lin HC, Wang YY, Hsu CH. China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2004 Apr;15(2):152-8

Atopic Dermatitis Children Helped by Bifidobacterium: In a small 15-patient, Japanese DB PC 1-month study, the eight children taking the bifidobacterium capsules did better than the placebo group with significantly fewer cutaneous symptoms and a longer allergy score. Effects of administration of bifidobacteria on fecal microflora and clinical symptoms in infants with atopic dermatitis Hattori K, Yamamoto A, Sasai M, Taniuchi S, Kojima T, Kobayashi Y, Iwamoto H, Namba K, Yaeshima T. Arerugi. 2003 Jan;52(1):20-30

Atopic Eczema in Infants Markedly Improved: In a controlled study of 27 breast-fed 5-month old infants with atopic eczema scores averaging 16, those switched to either lactobacillus or bifidobacillus in their formulas for two months showed a dramatic reduction in symptoms to 0 and 1 while those in the control group decreased only to 14. Probiotics in the management of atopic eczema. Isolauri E, Arvola T, Sutas Y, Moilanen E, Salminen S. Clin Exp Allergy. 2000 Nov;30(11):1604-10;

Atopic Eczema in Infants Helped Only by Live Yogurt Bacillus: In a Turkish DB PC study of 35 atopic children ages 5-6 months who also had allergies to cow's milk, the children received a formula, formula with Lactobacillus GG, or formula with heated treated LGG. Supplementation of infant formulas with viable but not heat-inactivated LGG is a potential approach for the management of atopic eczema and cow's milk allergy. Probiotic bacteria in the management of atopic disease: underscoring the importance of viability. Kirjavainen PV, Salminen SJ, Isolauri E. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2003 Feb;36(2):223-7

Atopic Eczema Still Reduced Four Years Later: The benefits of perinatal lactobacillus administration had a measurable benefit even at age 4 with 14 of 53 children receiving lactobacillus had developed atopic eczema, compared with 25 of 54 receiving placebo (relative risk 0.57). Probiotics and prevention of atopic disease: 4-year follow-up of a randomised placebo-controlled trial. Kalliomaki M, Salminen S, Poussa T, Arvilommi H, Isolauri E. Lancet. 2003 May 31;361(9372):1869-71

Birch-Pollen Allergy Not Helped by L. Rhamnosus: In a Univ. Helsinki DB PC study of 36 mild asthmatics with allergies during birch pollen season, five months of L. Rhamnosus did not make any difference. No effect of oral treatment with an intestinal bacterial strain, Lactobacillus rhamnosus (ATCC 53103), on birch-pollen allergy: a placebo-controlled double-blind study. Helin T, Haahtela S, Haahtela T. Allergy. 2002 Mar;57(3):243-6

Asthma Patients No Benefit in Very Small, Short Study: In a 15-patient, 1-month, crossover DB PC study, yogurt containing L. acidophilus generated trends in the increase in interferon gamma and decreased eosinophilia. However, there was no impact on clinical parameters in asthma patients in association with these modest immune changes. Univ Arkansas. Immune and clinical impact of Lactobacillus acidophilus on asthma. Wheeler JG, Shema SJ, Bogle ML, Shirrell MA, Burks AW, Pittler A, Helm RM. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 1997 Sep;79(3):229-33

Thomas E. Radecki, M.D., J.D.

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