研究表示益生菌可以緩和過敏反應

一分在美國的研究報告指出,每日適量的益生菌對樺樹花粉的呼吸道過敏有一定程度的改善。在全球有大約一億人對樺樹花粉過敏並引發氣喘。 在歐洲、加拿大和美西，樺樹花粉被視為主要的季節性過敏原之一。世界衛生組織(WHO)更預測在2010全球將會有一半的人口對樺樹花粉有過敏的影響。

研究報告指出,每日攝取適量的益生菌,可以有效的減輕由花粉過敏所引起的鼻腔黏膜分泌並緩和呼吸道過敏反應(像流鼻水和鼻塞)大約20%左右。這個發現更進一步的改善了傳統抗阻安劑療法所產生的副作用(像頭暈和口渴)。

Probiotic Cultures Shown to Give Relief in Allergy Study

Summary: A daily dose of two documented probiotic cultures, combined at a specific ratio, reduced the inflammatory response in the nasal mucus membranes to birch pollen and produced indications that respiratory symptoms, such as a runny nose and nasal blocking, were alleviated by approximately 20% each.

17/07/09 Danisco and Turku University are behind the first study to demonstrate that dietary supplementation with probiotic cultures may relieve the symptoms of birch pollen allergy.

About 100 million people around the world are allergic to birch pollen that can lead to severe asthma attacks. Birch pollen (Betula spp.) is considered to be the main cause of seasonal allergies in Europe and an important allergen in Canada and the northeastern United States. The World Health Organization said half of the world's population could be affected by allergies by 2010.

Published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology, the study was performed by leading researchers in the area of allergy and probiotics from Turku University Hospital and Turku University in collaboration with Danisco Health & Nutrition in Finland.

A daily dose of two documented probiotic cultures, combined at a specific ratio, reduced the inflammatory response in the nasal mucus membranes to birch pollen and produced indications that respiratory symptoms, such as a runny nose and nasal blocking, were alleviated by approximately 20% each.

The findings are a promising first step towards developing a probiotic alternative or supplement to traditional antihistamine treatments, which can give side effects such as drowsiness and dry mouth.

The 47 volunteers who participated in the study were all children between 4 and 13 years old diagnosed with birch pollen allergy. Starting a month before the onset of the birch pollen season, all were given a daily dose of either a placebo or the probiotic combination of Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM and Bifidobacterium lactis B1-04.

Treatment continued for four months. All the children received their usual
antihistamine treatment during this time. “Even though the children were already taking established medication, the probiotics clearly showed a positive effect,” says Dr Ouwehand.

In addition, the study enabled to observe for the first time general changes in the composition of the intestinal microflora during the pollen season. “This may provide new ground for additional studies on respiratory allergies,” the researchers state.

Further investigation is necessary to confirm the study findings

資料來源：Nutrition Horizon

http://www.nutritionhorizon.com:80/headlines/Probiotic-Cultures-Shown-to-Give-Relief-in-Allergy-Study.html