A study at the University of Michigan has linked the use of antibiotics to allergies and asthma. There has been an increase in allergies and asthma in the last 40 years which correlates with the widespread use of antibiotics. An observational study in Germany showed that the west side of the Berlin wall had allergies than the east side of the Berlin wall even though the cultures had very similar diets. After the wall came down and their was increased usage of antibiotics on the east side there was an increase in allergies as well. To add support to these observational studies the University of Michigan tested mice while using antibiotics. Mice were exposed to a mold which is known to cause allergic reactions, mice which did not react were then split into two groups a control and an experimental, the groups maintained the same diet as before but there were antibiotics added to the experimental group. When later exposed to the mold the mice which had been given antibiotics had a much more inflamed response in their respiratory systems. The current idea to why antibiotics affect allergies is that they reduce the amount of micro flora in the gastrointestinal tract. The bacteria in the GI tract is believed to help in regulation of the immune system and in an unknown way the GI tract can possibly signal to the immune system what things are harmless. This means that allergies and asthma could possibly be decreased with the use of probiotics and a healthy diet. It is also important that after a patient uses antibiotics that they nurse their gut back to health.
Citations
Randerson, J. 2004. Antibiotics Linked to Rise in Allergies. NewScience. [Internet]. [Cited October 3] Available from: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn5047-antibiotics-linked-to-huge-rise-in-allergies.html#.VDA7UBEtCM9
Kayla, this is an interesting connection to make between gut flora and allergies and asthma. I found another article that discusses how antibiotics or a sterile environment early in life can cause the lack of the bacteria Clostridia in the guy microbiota, (AFP 2014). Clostridia is important in prevention of food allergies. Researchers found that mice who were given antibiotics early in life were more likely to have a higher antibody response to peanuts than mice with normal guy bacteria, (AFP 2014). Luckily, mice used in the research were given probiotics with Clostridia which reversed the allergy to peanuts, (AFP 2014). Food allergies are of large concern, especially in children. If a connection can be made between antibiotic use at a young age or sterile environments to allergies, I think it is important to consider different treatment for young children. For example, decreased antibiotic use and increased probiotic use with Clostridia may be able to decrease the occurrence of allergies. Gut microbiota seems to be connected to a lot of different aspects of our health though there is still much unknown. I will interested to see continued research on this topic.
ReplyDeleteAFP/Relax News. 27 August 2014. Food Allergies Could Be Caused By Antibiotics Or Sterile Environments. Huffington Post. [Internet]. [Cited 2014 October 5]. Available from:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/08/27/food-allergies-cause_n_5722694.html