Beneficial Bacteria (Probiotics) During Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Helps Protect Against Eczema

Cultured bacteria that can potentially promote health are called probiotics.

Probiotics administered during pregnancy and lactation appears to promote the immune system protective potential of breast-feeding.

The probiotics also protect infants against eczema during the first two years.

There is a growing incidence of allergic diseases in the Western world and researchers acknowledge the need to offer primary protection to reverse the trend. The ideal source of infant nutrition to provide protection from these diseases is breast-milk. Its role, however, is elusive.

Pediatricians in Finland undertook a double-blind, placebo controlled study to determine the potential for protection against allergic diseases by administering probiotics.
Mothers who received probiotics during pregnancy and lactation improved their anti-inflammatory transforming growth TGF in their milk.

In addition, it was shown that the risk of developing eczema during the infants first two years was significantly reduced compared with the placebo group.

Researchers concluded that maternal allergies were a positive risk for eczema in the infant. In addition infants who appeared to benefit the most from maternal probiotics supplementation were those whose cord blood Immunoglobulin E (IgE) concentration was elevated.

Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology 2002 Vol 109 No 1 pp 119-121