An indigenous strain of lactic-acid bacteria may be an effective alternative to imported strains in the treatment of chronic allergies, a recent China Medical University Hospital study has shown.
"Most of the strains you find on the market in Taiwan are imported from Holland, Sweden or Finland. The indigenous strain we have now, however, was isolated from the intestinal tract of normal, healthy people here," said Hsu Ching-hsiang (許清祥), head of pediatrics at the China Medical University Hospital.
The new strain, Lactobacillus paracasei-33 (LP-33), like other strains of the bacteria, can be consumed and sold as a fortifying component in yogurt.
Hsu said that his study compared the LP-33 strain with imported strains commonly sold in Taiwan, and concluded that the new strain was significantly more effective in reducing allergic symptoms such as nose, skin and eye irritation.
The experiment Hsu conducted saw 60 people drink LP-33 fortified yogurt for 16 weeks and a control group of 20 drink a placebo yogurt over the same period.
The results indicated that the LP-33 intake group registered a 30 percent to 40 percent reduction in allergy symptoms. A 10 percent reduction was recorded for the control group.
The severity of symptoms also decreased by between 40 percent and 50 percent for the LP-33 group, while the corresponding figure for the control group was just 20 percent. The data were compiled with questionnaires and follow-up examinations.
Hsu said the lactic-acid bacteria strain was useful in inhibiting the production of immunoglobulin E, a class of proteins produced in response to the presence of allergens and which cause cells to produce hista-mines that bring about allergic symptoms.
At the same time, Hsu's research showed that the use of oral bacterio-therapy using LP-33 also boosted interferon gamma production, which helped to protect uninfected cells against disease.
"The prevalence of allergic rhinitis has been increasing in recent years, especially over the last 30 years," Hsu said, adding that allergy incidence worldwide has increased eightfold in the last 30 years.
"While we know that hereditary factors are important in allergies, environmental factors are also very important," Hsu said.
With standards of sanitation and disease control increasing in developed nations, alterations in gastrointestinal microorganisms in humans have resulted in changes in human immunity.
A Westernized diet may also be a possible culprit in the increase in allergies in recent years, Hsu said.
"At present there are basically two types of treatment for allergic symptoms. Antihistamines and corticosteroids are the drugs usually prescribed, so I've always wanted to find alternatives," Hsu told reporters.
Oral antihistamines have posed problems for patients given their sedative effect, while a definitive answer to the long-term impact of steroid use awaits further research.
The study also found that the consumption of LP-33 in yogurt did not result in any negative side effects. Hsu said that it may be an ideal alternative for long-term treatment.
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