Route Of Administration In The Treatment Of Allergic Rhinitis
Oral administration of the probiotics is the routine way of treating diseases, for there are several generally accepted characteristics of probiotics: they are microbial organisms they can survive under gastric, biliary, and pancreatic digestion and probiotics are able to induce a host response once they enter the intestinal microbial ecosystem and yield a functional or clinical benefit to the host. A recent study showed that intraperitoneal delivery of EcN together with Ovalbumin /Alum strongly inhibited the generation of OVA-induced Th2 responses. But applying EcN intranasal or orally did not reduce the allergic response. Other studies reported that the intranasal route with VSL#3 had the capability to prevent the development of an allergic response in inhalant allergy model and oral therapy treatment with VSL#3 was able to significantly reduce both systemic and local anaphylactic symptoms in food allergy model.
Probiotics To Decrease The Use Of Steroids
For some dogs, management of allergies requires long-term use of medications. Veterinarians commonly use antihistamines and steroids in allergy treatment. Long-term steroid use can cause a variety of adverse side effects.
A study published in the Veterinary Dermatology journal in 2015 looked at a group of dogs with atopic dermatitis who were given a specific strain of lactobacillus as a probiotic.
The dogs in this study were all being treated with an antihistamine and a steroid.
At the end of the study, the dogs who received the probiotic showed clinical improvement in the severity of dermatitis and itchiness compared to the control group.
Some of the dogs in the probiotic group were able to have their antihistamine and steroid dose decreased. A few dogs in the probiotic group were even able to come off steroids entirely.
Although larger-scale trials need still need to be done, the apparent ability to decrease steroid use by adding a probiotic could be a huge win for your pets long-term health.
Probiotics And Allergy Shots
Another study from 2017, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that the probiotic combination of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, sold as Kyo-Dophilus in stores, helped reduce allergy-related nose symptoms in allergy sufferers at the height of spring allergy season. The researchers, from the University of Florida, believe those probiotic strains work by boosting the bodys percentage of regulatory T-cells, which could, in turn, raise tolerance to hay fever symptoms.
Probiotics are classified as a supplement and further research is needed before doctors are able to recommend when and how to take probiotics for allergy relief, according to Dr. Turner.
Still, probiotics may be an option for those who arent happy with allergy shotscurrently the best allergy treatment availableas future research is still underway, he says.
There is some evidence that taking probiotics while getting allergy shots may make the allergy shots more effective, says Dr. Nickels. While the current numbers of patients studied are small, there is excitement in the field that probiotics could be a helpful addition to treating allergic rhinitis.
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Gluten Sensitivity And Coeliac Disease
Issues digesting gluten are triggered by exposure to many grains, such as wheat, barley, and couscous. Coeliac disease is a severe form of intolerance which requires the affected person to cut out all foods containing gluten, which includes very common foods such as bread, cereal, and pasta. It is different to non-celiac gluten sensitivity, a milder health problem that may affect 5% of people.
Celiac disease sufferers experience autoimmune inflammation in the small intestine that is triggered by gluten, wherein the immune system attacks the body itself, which if left untreated can lead to conditions that affect other systems of the body, such as infertility, osteoporosis , and chronic fatigue.
Interestingly, 30% of the Caucasian and Western European population carries a gene that predisposes towards celiac disease, but only a small percentage of those with the genes develop celiac disease. The Atlas DNA Test searches for genetic predispositions towards lactose, alcohol, and gluten intolerance.
Not All Strains Are Created Equal
Of course, there are many different kinds of probiotics out there, all featuring different “strains,” or types of bacteria. Different strains have been shown to help with different health issues, and allergies are no exception. “The most commonly studied probiotics for treating seasonal allergies include Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species, with 19 and six studies, respectively,” says Dr. Illing. “Other probiotics may also be helpful, but the data is lacking to recommend for or against other strains.”
It’s important to note, though, that thanks to the uniqueness of each person’s gut bacteria, different strains might work for different people. “Our gut microbial pattern is just as unique as our fingerprint,” says Will Bulsiewicz, M.D., aka The Gut Health M.D.“There is no one on the planet who has the exact same mix and proportions of bacteria that you do! The challenge is understanding which bacteria strains will fill a needed void or sway the balance in a positive direction on an individual basis given this level of bio-individuality.
Still, if you’re really suffering, a probiotic pill may be your best immune-boosting option. “Many fermented foods, like most yogurts and even sauerkraut, do not have strains of bacteria that survive your stomach acid,” says Michael Roizen, M.D., Cleveland Clinic’s Chief of Wellness. Clinically tested probiotics, on the other hand, are made to survive that trip through your digestive system.
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How Probiotics May Work On Allergies
The exact mechanisms for how probiotics impact the immune response to allergies are not fully understood. However, researchers have some general theories.
Like other disease processes, allergies throw off the natural balance within the body. For dogs with food allergies, the normal bacteria that colonize the gut is disturbed.
The use of probiotics can help restore balance, regulate the immune response, and promote a healthy gut.
The benefits of feeding probiotics to a dog with skin allergies may not be as obvious. Like gastrointestinal disorders, skin disorders can throw off the natural balance of bacteria found on the skin.
An overabundance of bad skin bacteria can lead to irritation and infection.
However, gut health and skin conditions are more connected than one might think. Researchers believe that skin diseases are an indication of more systemic disorders related to gut health.
Studies done in humans have shown that restoring the balance of gut bacteria has helped patients suffering from skin disorders. Now, similar studies are being done on dogs.
Why Do Allergies Develop
The reason why we develop allergies is still poorly understood, but it is a subject of great concern to the medical profession as these inappropriate physical responses are a growing concern worldwide6.
The World Allergy Organization warns that “the prevalence of allergic diseases worldwide is rising dramatically in both developed and developing countries.”
Allergies can take many different forms, encompassing reactions ranging from mild to dangerous anaphylactic reactions. Whilst food intolerances are generally the result of poor digestion or leaky gut, where incompletely digested molecules of food pass through into the bloodstream triggering an immune response from an antibody, or immunoglobulin. A true allergy involves the immune system, and in particular a specific immunoglobulin called IgE , which is implicated in anaphylaxis.
Health professionals can read more about leaky gut over on the Professionals site.
Allergies can also present without warning at any time, often affecting sufferers late in life and causing reactions to foods or environmental stimuli that have previously been well-tolerated.In particular, more and more children are presenting with allergenic symptoms, with the latest statistics indicating that more than 50% of children in the United Kingdom now suffer from some form of allergy.
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The Types Of Probiotics Using In The Treatment Of Allergic Rhinitis
Only a single probiotic strain was intensively involved in the studies of the treatment of most of allergic rhinitis, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacillus johnsonii EM1, Lactobacillus gasseri, Bacillus clausii, Escherichia coli Nissle 1917. However, recent studies have been starting to evaluate the treatment effect by using more than one strain of probiotics. For example, Lactobacillus GG and L. gasseri were used in the treatment of allergic rhinitis, and the combined treatment effect of L. acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis were also determined. A probiotic mixture VSL#3 , which contains eight different probiotic strains were used in their study. Review of literatures revealed that Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium were the most popular probiotics studied by researchers. Meijerink et al. suggested that the 28 strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium are the best choice for research purposes, as they have been isolated from different commercially available products, and being screened for their immunomodulatory properties in a coculture assay with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
So Do Probiotics Help With Allergies
While the gut is definitely implicated in allergies, it’s a bit of a leap to conclude that because your gut and your allergies are related, taking probiotics will help ease your seasonal symptoms. But research does suggest there might be something to the idea.
“Although the exact mechanism isn’t understood, probiotics may help promote the regulatory rather than inflammatory immune response to allergens,” says Elisa Illing, M.D., an otolaryngologist andhead and neck surgeon at Indiana University Health. In other words, probiotics might help your body avoid that “allergic” response you normally have to dust, pollen, mites, or whatever your seasonal allergy triggers are.
“Several randomized, controlled trials have shown the benefit of oral probiotics in the treatment of seasonal allergies in adults and children. However, this is in addition to traditional allergy treatment with antihistamines and nasal steroid sprays,” says Dr. Illing. So basically, probiotics can help, but you probably don’t want to ditch your regular allergy meds just yet.
Of course, all studies have limitations, and the symptoms of allergies are pretty subjective, so it’s important to take this research with a grain of salt. Still, the studies are very promising.
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Do Probiotics Really Help
There is some conflicting research on this topic. Some studies indicate probiotics work best when used by pregnant women, to prevent allergies in children or infants. Others claim there are no benefits, and some studies report people had improved symptoms when taking probiotics during allergy season.
The results could be due to several reasons ranging from the strains of probiotics that were used to the length of use. Many factors can affect the studies.
Although the results of the studies are conflicting, taking a high-quality probiotic is unlikely to cause any problems. If you do try a probiotic dont expect results overnight. If you try a probiotic and symptoms dont improve in 3 months it may not be the right probiotic, or simply may not help your allergies.
There Is Hope For People With Food Allergies
I did reverse my food allergies. It took about two years but I did it. My experience taught me not to give up when you are given a prognosis.
Are there foods you just cant eat? Is ordering in a restaurant an ordeal? Do bread and pizza leave you bloated and tired? Do dairy products give you gut pain or diarrhea? Do your symptoms manifest as IBS, bowel issues, arthritis or breathing problems? Do your kids have these problems or spectrum disorders?
I know how you feel. And I want you to know that there is hope!
What if I told you that if you can heal your gut, you can eat anything you want with no symptoms? That you can reverse these problems?
It is absolutely possible. I know it is because I reversed mine.
Not everyone can recover from food allergies, but the vast majority of people can.
It took two years to fully heal my gut, but I got my life back. Chances are, you can too!
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Heres How Your Gut And Your Allergies Could Be Linked
If youre up on your health and wellness news, you know that gut health has been linked to both physical and mental health and that probiotics are one of the most popular ways to boost your microbiomethe collection of bacteria living in your gut. In fact, it often seems like probiotics are recommended to help treat virtually *every* health issue, from acne to digestive troubles to depression. So why not seasonal allergies too? Heres what experts have to say on the topic.
How Allergies and Your Gut Are LinkedIf you have allergies, you probably already know that allergies and your immune system are linked. But what may surprise you is that the connection between your gut and seasonal allergies is actually quite strong. We live because of air, food, and water intake, explains Gregor Reid, Ph.D., chief scientist for the soon-to-be-launched Seed. The gut is considered the center of our immune system, which also spans our airways, skin, and other parts of our bodies. This system was built from birth by microbes that taught the immune cells to know the differences between part of the family and foreign invaders, Reid says. Pollen, for example, is like one of those invaders for some people, and the system detects it and responds by trying to flush it out. Thus, sneezing watery eyes and nose. This set of symptoms is also known as allergic rhinitis.
Acknowledgements by: By Julia MalacoffPhoto: HBRH / Shutterstock
The Best Sources Of Probiotics
- Breastmilk
The best way to prevent your child from developing allergies is to breastfeed during the first two years of life. Breastfeeding ensures your child gets large doses of healing probiotics to seal his gut, nourish his body, and strengthen his immune system.
- Yogurt
Organic yogurt offers a good source of gut-healing probiotics. Be sure to choose an organic variety free of added sugars and food dyes.
- Sauerkraut & Kimchi
Sauerkraut & kimchi are two of the most potent sources of probiotics.
- Milk Kefir
Milk kefir is also a good and inexpensive source of probiotics that you can make yourself at home. Drink milk kefir on an empty stomach one hour to two hours before meals for best results.
- Kombucha
Kombucha is a fizzy, fermented drink you can also make at home. Because of its naturally carbonated consistency, it can easily replace dangerous, aspartame-laced diet soda.
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Impact Of Probiotic Bacteria On Respiratory Allergy Disorders
- Laboratory of Microbiome Immunobiology, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocaw, Poland
Respiratory allergy is a common disease with an increased prevalence worldwide. The effective remedy is still unknown, and a new therapeutic approach is highly desirable. The review elaborates the influence of probiotic bacteria on respiratory allergy prevention and treatment with particular emphasis on the impact of the current methods of their administration oral and intranasal. The background of the respiratory allergy is complex thus, we focused on the usefulness of probiotics in the alleviation of different allergy factors, in particular involved in pathomechanism, local hypersensitive evidence and the importance of epithelial barrier. In this review, we have shown that probiotic strains may vary in modulatory potential in respiratory allergy, probiotic bacteria are beneficial in oral and intranasal administration, recombinant probiotic bacteria can modulate the course of respiratory allergy.
Probiotics And Gut Health
The best case for probiotic therapy has been in the treatment of diarrhea. Controlled trials have shown that Lactobacillus GG can shorten the course of infectious diarrhea in infants and children . Although studies are limited and data are inconsistent, two large reviews, taken together, suggest that probiotics reduce antibiotic-associated diarrhea by 60%, when compared with a placebo.
More common than diarrhea is the opposite problem constipation. In a search for studies on the benefits of probiotics in treating constipation, researchers found that probiotics slowed gut transit time by 12.4 hours, increases the number of weekly bowel movements by 1.3, and helped to soften stools, making them easier to pass. But the jury is still out on specific recommendations when it comes to the benefits of probiotics for constipation.
Probiotic therapy may also help people with Crohns disease and irritable bowel syndrome. Clinical trial results are mixed, but several small studies suggest that certain probiotics may help maintain remission of ulcerative colitis and prevent relapse of Crohns disease and the recurrence of pouchitis . Because these disorders are so frustrating to treat, many people are giving probiotics a try before all the evidence is in for the particular strains theyre using. More research is needed to find out which strains work best for what conditions.
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Allergy Risk Depends On Many Factors
In terms of allergy prevention, it is necessary to think beyond probiotics, since there are a number of factors that promote allergies. These include :
- Genetics
- Use of antibiotics and antacids
- Excessive consumption of fatty foods
Breastfeeding babies and subsequently feeding them a healthy diet can go a long way to helping prevent allergies. A healthy diet includes dairy products, fish, fibre, vegetables and fruit. Fermented foods such as sauerkraut or kimchi, a Korean dish made of pickled Chinese cabbage, also promote gut health.
Over The Counter Medication:
Before we started to look into the relationship between probiotics and allergies, there were many OTC options available in the market. The most common side-effect to antihistamines is drowsiness, which makes them somewhat incompatible with the work-day, this explains the rise in the interest for alternative medicine options.
These are the most common antihistamines :
- Fexofenadine
- Chlorpheniramine
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How To Take Probiotics For Allergies
If youre hoping to grab a probiotic from your local drugstore instead of a traditional allergy medicine and hope for the same results, you might want to wait a while.
As of now, the most comprehensive meta-study has not been able to decisively identify any particular strain of bacteria that is specifically useful to treat seasonal allergies. Some studies contradict each other on which bacteria can treat grass pollen, and other studies will find that those strains the first two studies examined werent nearly as effective in their own trials.
The people taking the probiotics in the studies took them in a variety of methods, as well, in carefully measured and timed dosages. That means that adding some yogurt to your breakfast every morning during allergy season probably wont do much to help your sneezing and itchy eyes.
Some scientists are skeptical as to whether or not probiotics will ever work as well as our current antihistamines. If anything, theyre better suited to therapy, or treatment for those with very mild symptoms.
Others scientists are more hopeful. Finding out how exactly probiotics work in regards to allergies is an important step in that process. Some studies show that some strains of bacteria can affect how our T cells function. Others suggest that they may reduce the production of a part of the immune system called immunoglobulin E, which is produced in excess during an allergic reaction.
