Article: Atopy in Children of Families with an Anthroposophic Lifestyle

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Just passing along an interesting article.

 

*Smile*

Chris (list mom)

 

http://www.alittleolfactory.com

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Atopy in Children of Families with an Anthroposophic Lifestyle

 

http://www.paam.net/sl-atopy.htm

 

[Abstract from article appearing in The Lancet May 1, 1999 by Alm JS, Swartz J,

Lilja G, Scheynius A, Pershagen G.]

 

Background: Increased prevalence of atopic disorders in children may be

associated with changes in types of childhood infection, vaccination programmes,

and intestinal microflora. People who follow an anthroposophic way of life use

antibiotics restrictively, have few vaccinations, and their diet usually

contains live lactobacilli, which may affect the intestinal microflora. We aimed

to study the prevalence of atopy in children from anthroposophic families and

the influence of an anthroposophic lifestyle on atropy prevalence.

 

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 295 children aged 5-13 years at two

anthroposophic (Steiner) schools near Stockholm, Sweden, were compared with 380

children of the same age at two neighbouring schools in terms of history of

atopic and infections diseases, use of antibiotics and vaccinations, and social

and environmental variables. Skin-prick tests were done for 13 common allergens,

and we took blood samples from children and their parents for analysis of

allergen-specific serum lgE-antibodies.

 

Findings: At the Steiner schools, 52% of the children had had antibiotics in the

past compared with 90% in the control schools. 18% and 93% of children,

respectively had had combined immunization against measles, mumps, and rubella,

and 61% of the children at the Steiner schools had had measles. Fermented

vegetables, containing live lactobacilli, were consumed by 63% of the children

at Steiner schools, compared with 4.5% at the control schools. Skin-prick tests

and blood tests showed that the children from Steiner schools had lower

prevalence of atopy than controls (odds ratio 0-62 {95% Cl 0-43-0.91}. There was

an inverse relation between the number of characteristic features of an

anthroposophic lifestyle and risk of atopy )p for trend=01).

 

Interpretation: Prevalence of atopy is lower in children from anthroposophical

families than in children from other families. Lifestyle factors associated with

anthroposophy may lessen the risk of atopy in childhood.

 

Lancet 1999; 353:1485-88

 

http://www.paam.net/sl-atopy.htm