Probiotics Associated with Lowered Risks of Allergies among Children

Babies whose parents take probiotics or "good bacteria" supplements while pregnant may have lower risks for allergies, but not asthma, according to a new analysis of past studies released on Thursday.

The study which was published in the journal of Pediatrics showed that babies who are exposed to probiotics in the womb and those who receive supplements after they are born have at least 12 percent lowered risk of getting allergies in the following months or even years.

The research team analyzed the results of 25 previous trials of supplements given to pregnant women during the first year of a child's life.

The study compared mothers and babies randomly assigned to take probiotics with those given placebo supplements.

"Doctors don't typically recommend for or against probiotics for pregnant women or young children, and it's still too soon to make that leap," said senior author Dr. Erick Forno of Children's Hospital in Pittsburg.

He also told Reuters Health in an email, "Based on our findings, probiotics have a protective effect against allergies, but we still have things to learn before we can give general advice to the public."

"Postnatal probiotics may not be necessary to see a beneficial effect, but further studies would be needed to clarify that point," said Mimi Tang, director of the department of allergy and immunology at Royal Children's Hospital in Parkville, Australia.

She also told Reuters Health that probiotics are generally regarded as safe and studies have not found any serious side effects. But the specific microbes and the best dosage are still unclear.