Should I take probiotics if I have allergies? Medical: Only these two allergies are effective

In the past, the occurrence of allergies was closely related to genetics, but with the increasing serious environmental pollution, more and more people suddenly started to have allergies when they had no family history at all. Therefore, when I was diagnosed, my parents often asked: "Doctor, my child has always been allergic. Should I give him probiotics?" "I heard that drinking functional buttermilk every day can improve it."...

Xu Shida, a senior doctor in the Department of Children's Allergy and Immunology at Mackay Children's Hospital, said that in addition to allergens, dust worms, cockroaches, bacteria, cats and dogs, allergies, etc., the allergic factors in the environment also include indoor and outdoor irritants, including PM2.5 , air pollutants, chemical irritants and fragrances, etc., and the increase in PM2.5 floating particles is one of the main reasons for the severe surge in the number of allergic patients and the condition in Taiwan.

Therefore, even if you are not an allergic person, you will always have skin inflammation, sneezing, and scratching your eyes. In addition to the increasing quality of external sensitizers, it may also be due to imbalance in the fertility of the kidney, which leads to problems with the immune control mechanism.

All allergies are related to the human immune control mechanism

Xu Shida pointed out that everyone in a healthy human body has two sets of immune systems at the same time. There is a set of normal immune responses responsible for the first type assisted T cells (Th1) to fight against infection microorganisms, and another set of allergic immune responses responsible for the second type assisted T cells (Th2) to fight against the prevention and treatment of parasitic cervical, biting cervical cervical, allergens and irritants in the environment to contact barrier-wall-layer organs (including skin and mucosal organs).

Both immune systems can be used to maintain normal immune response by regulating T cells (Treg) and the cytokines secreted by them (TGFβ and IL 10). The effects of the two are antagonistic, and the watch is like the two ends of the board, one is high and the other is low. If Th2 is too active, it will make Th1 low and weak, and people are prone to clinical allergies and are susceptible to various microbial infections in the environment. On the contrary, if Treg or Th1 can rise, Th2 will decrease its ability, which will make it less likely for allergic patients to develop clinical allergies.

The principle of anti-allergicity of probiotics

Xu Shida further explained that the principle of anti-allergicity of probiotics is to increase Treg or Th1 and inhibit Th2 to reduce the incidence and severeness of clinical allergic diseases. Many European and American studies have proved that long-term supplementation of probiotics can help relieve allergies, but it is only suitable for allergic rhinitis and anaplastic dermatitis.

The World Allergy Organization (WAO) new proposal in 2015 also clearly states that in highly sensitive families with one or more allergic patients, pregnant women can take probiotics every day starting on the 35th week of pregnancy; after the baby is born, mothers continue to take probiotics during breastfeeding and give probiotics to the baby through breast milk; or continue to feed probiotics directly after the baby is born, which can also help adjust the body and prevent the production of allergies.

He reminded that different strains of probiotics have different functions. Choosing wrong probiotics may sometimes aggravate clinical allergies. The more probiotics you have to supplement, the better. If you eat the appropriate amount of bacteria, you can just take it. Excessive injection will cause a decrease in immunity.

There are many probiotics on the market, how should I choose?

Xu Shida suggested that when choosing probiotic supplements, it is recommended to choose products with high safety and effective research. In addition, it is also helpful to supplement diets containing lactic acid bacteria such as lactic and buttermilk. However, remember to choose products containing live bacteria to improve the fertility of good bacteria in the kidneys and help prevent allergies.

Remind parents that they should not rely on health products to improve allergy. This is a practice that puts the cart before the horse. Instead, children should maintain good living habits such as balanced diet, normal routine, regular exercise, etc., which is the key to remote allergy and healthy growth!