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Dr Mikael Kuitunen, from the Skin and Allergy Hospital in Helsinki, Finland, and colleagues studied 891 mothers and their infants, all of whom had a history of asthma or allergies in their family.

The mothers were randomly divided into two groups with one group given supplements containing four probiotics and the other group a fake supplement pill during the final month of pregnancy. Their children also received a probiotic supplement or placebo pill from birth until the age of 6 months.

Mother and child Five years later, the team found that, overall, the proportion of children who had developed allergies was similar in the two groups, at 53% of children who received probiotics and 55% of those who received placebo.

There were also no significant differences regarding the development of asthma, eczema or hay fever between the two groups.

However, the team did find that children born by caesarean section were less likely to develop allergies if they received probiotics, at 24% compared with 40% of those who did not receive the supplements.

The researchers suggest that caesarean-delivered children are not exposed to beneficial bacteria from their mothers during birth, and that the probiotic supplements might correct this shortfall.

Dr Elaine Vickers, Research Relations Manager at Asthma UK, comments: ‘In December 2008, Dutch researchers showed that children born by caesarean section have a higher risk of asthma than children born naturally.

‘This new research suggests that women who know they will need a c-section might be able to lessen their child’s risk of asthma by taking probiotic supplements.

‘However, for most mothers-to-be, probiotic supplements appear to be unable to reduce the allergy or asthma risk of their unborn child.’

Source: http://www.asthma.org.uk

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