Specific probiotics alleviate allergic rhinitis during the birch pollen season

Specific probiotics alleviate allergic rhinitis during the birch pollen season
-Arthur C Ouwehand, Merja Nermes, et al.
World J Gastroenterol. 2009 July 14; 15(26): 3261–3268. doi:  10.3748/wjg.15.3261

Excerpts:

• Birch pollen allergy was shown to be associated with changes in fecal microbiota composition. The specific combination of probiotics used was shown to prevent the pollen-induced infiltration of eosinophils into the nasal mucosa, and indicated a trend for reduced nasal symptoms.
• ...our results indicate that gut microbiota are involved in regulating the inflammatory processes also in airway allergies. 
• The fecal levels of bifidobacteria, clostridia and Bacteroides were reduced at the peak of the birch pollen season. 
• In conclusion, our study showed that consumption of a combination of L. acidophilus NCFM^TM and B. lactis Bl-04 could positively influence markers of respiratory allergy, especially in the mucosae, and also resulted in a tendency for a reduction in reported nasal symptoms.
• Probiotics may provide an alternative or complementary treatment for pollen allergies. A future study could investigate whether this would lead to a reduced use of antihistamines.

Various effects of different probiotic strains in allergic disorders

Various effects of different probiotic strains in allergic disorders: an update from laboratory and clinical data
-Ozdemir O., Department of Pediatics, Division of Allergy/Immunology, SEMA Research and Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
Clin Exp Immunol. 2010 Jun;160(3):295-304. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2249.2010.04109.x. Epub 2010 Mar 16.

Excerpts:

• Enhanced presence of probiotic bacteria in the intestinal microbiota is found to correlate with protection against atopy. 
• There is also very promising evidence to recommend the addition of probiotics to foods for the prevention and treatment of allergic diseases. 
• Clinical improvement, especially in allergic rhinitis and immunoglobulin (Ig)E-sensitized (atopic) eczema, has been reported in most of the published studies.  
• After weaning, the microflora of children begins to resemble that of adults, with
  increased Bacteroides, Veillonella and Fusobacterium.
• In another study, Lctbs acidophilus and Bfdbm lactis treatments prevented OVA-induced allergic symptoms on the skin and gastrointestinal tract, e.g. eosinophilic infiltration.

Editor's notes:

• The 'hygiene hypothesis' and its possible connection to increased levels of allergic disease in industrialized countries.
• Development of infant immune system, its relation to environmental and dietary bacteria, and its maturation into the adult immune system.
• Probiotics: definition and modes of operation.

Any benefits of probiotics in allergic disorders?

Any benefits of probiotics in allergic disorders?
-Ozdemir, O
Division of Allergy/Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Private SEMA Research and Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Allergy Asthma Proc. 2010 Mar-Apr;31(2):103-11. doi: 10.2500/aap.2010.31.3313.

Excerpts:

• There is insufficient but very promising evidence to recommend the addition of probiotics to foods for prevention and treatment of allergic diseases, especially atopic dermatitis.
  
• Clinical improvement especially in allergic rhinitis and IgE-sensitized (atopic) eczema has been reported too.
  

Editor: How can data be "insufficient" but "very promising"?