Primal Health Databank: Study

Entry No:0728
Title:Probiotics prevent IgE-associated allergy until age 5 years in cesarean-delivered children but not in the total cohort
Author(s):Kuitunen M, Kukkonen K, Juntunen-Backman K, et al.
Reference:J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2009 Feb;123(2):335-41. Epub 2009 Jan 8
Place of Study:Finland
Abstract:In a double-blinded, placebo-controlled study the authors randomized 1223 mothers with infants at high risk for allergy to receive a probiotic mixture (2 lactobacilli, bifidobacteria, and propionibacteria) or placebo during the last month of pregnancy and their infants to receive it from birth until age 6 months. Infants also received a prebiotic galacto-oligosaccharide or placebo. At 5 years, the authors evaluated the cumulative incidence of allergic diseases (eczema, food allergy, allergic rhinitis, and asthma) and IgE sensitization. Of the 1018 intent-to-treat infants, 891 (88%) attended the 5-year visit. Frequencies of allergic and IgE-associated allergic disease and sensitization in the probiotic and placebo groups were similar: 52.6% versus 54.9% and 29.5% versus 26.6%, respectively, and 41.3% in both. No significant difference appeared in frequencies of eczema (39.3% vs 43.3%), atopic eczema (24.0% vs 25.1%), allergic rhinitis (20.7% vs 19.1%), or asthma (13.0% vs 14.1%) between groups. However, less IgE-associated allergic disease occurred in cesarean-delivered children receiving probiotics (24.3% vs 40.5%; odds ratio, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.23% to 0.96%; P = .035). CONCLUSIONS: No allergy-preventive effect that extended to age 5 years was achieved with perinatal supplementation of probiotic bacteria to high-risk mothers and children. It conferred protection only to cesarean-delivered children.
Keyword(s):allergic disease, allergic rhinitis, allergy, asthma in childhood, caesarean, cesarean, gut flora, probiotics
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