Probiotics in prevention of eczema

The Facts:

  • In a well-controlled trial, mothers with a family history of allergies received the oral probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri daily from 36 weeks' gestation until giving birth; their babies then continued with the same product for 12 months.
  • Infants who had received the probiotic had significantly less eczema during their second year, and less reactivity to the skin prick test than those who received placebo.
  • Because probiotics appear to alleviate eczema in children they may potentially reduce the risk of developing respiratory allergic disease later in life.
Dr Shaun Holt: The fact that stomach ulcers can be caused by the bacteria Helicobacter pylori was ridiculed when it was first suggested. Then in 1981 Australian researcher Barry Marshall drank a petri dish full, developed gastritis and treated himself with antibiotics! In this excellent and important study, 200 patients with this infection had either the current best therapy, which has a 75% success rate, or the same treatment and lactoferrin and probiotics. The addition of these two natural products increased the success rate to over 90% and could be the biggest advance since that crazy Aussie!

http://www.amjgastro.com/showContent.asp?DID=4&SessionGUID=F3CD6AD7-7482-45F9-BBC3-9F5DC8B6C5D2&id=ajg_108552007&type=abstract

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