Antibiotics Linked To Asthma, Allergies

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Antibiotics Linked to Asthma, Allergies

 

 

 

If allergies are making your life unbearable and you find you can't

go a day without your inhaler, the real culprit might not be your

congested head; it could be the microbes in your gut.

Scientists from the University of Michigan Medical School presented

findings from studies that involved laboratory mice. Results showed

that antibiotics might be responsible for producing changes in

microbes in the gastrointestinal tract, which in turn could impact

the way the immune system responds to common allergens in the lungs.

 

Gary B. Huffnagle, associate professor of internal medicine, stated

that antibiotics got rid of bacteria in the gut, which enabled fungi

to take control until the bacteria grew back after the antibiotics

were discontinued.

 

Researchers explained the relationship between the gastrointestinal,

respiratory and immune system in the body by describing how with each

inhalation, pollen and dust particles are trapped and enter the

stomach with the production of saliva and mucus created as you

swallow.

 

In other experiments, scientists found that fungi produced oxylipins,

which are molecules that could determine the kind and severity level

of immune responses. This supported the idea that fungal oxylipins in

the GI tract helped avoid the production of regulatory T cells for

ingested allergens. This caused T cells in the respiratory system to

become susceptible to common allergens such as mold spores and

pollen. These factors combined result in a hyperactive immune

response, which could result in allergy symptoms and in some cases,

asthma.

 

This hypothesis was tested on mice who were administered oral

antibiotics for five days and then given one oral introduction of the

yeast called Candida albicans, which was used to reproduce a steady

group of microbes in both the gastrointestinal system and intestines.

 

Findings from the study include:

 

The mice were injected with common mold spores two days after the

antibiotics were stopped and possible allergic side effects were

evaluated with both groups of mice, those that were given the

antibiotic and those that were not.

 

The mice that were given antibiotics and exposed to C. albicans

displayed higher rates of pulmonary hypersensitivity to A. fumigatus

as opposed to the mice that weren't given any antibiotics.

 

Based on these findings, researchers concluded the changes to both

the growth of bacteria and fungi within the GI tract disrupted the

function of the regulatory T cells to lessen the immune system

reaction to respiratory allergens. Researchers expressed hope that by

learning how microflora in the GI tract impacted the immune system

might hold the key to treating allergies with dietary changes or

through taking probiotics, dietary supplements responsible for

producing " healthy " bacteria, in order to regulate the microbes in

the gut.

 

Researchers stressed the importance of following a nutritious diet

complete with an abundance of raw fruits and vegetables after taking

antibiotics as a way to speed up the process of bringing the microbes

in the GI tract back to healthy levels.

 

Science Blog May 26, 2004

 

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Dr. Mercola's Comments:

 

This is definitely something to keep in mind the next time you

consider taking an antibiotic or giving one to your children. There

are certainly times when they are necessary but antibiotics are

typically widely overused .

 

I recently posted an article describing my disdain that two out of

three babies receive antibiotics by their first birthday.

 

Should antibiotics be used? Absolutely. I am not opposed to their use

in every circumstance, only to the reliance on them in situations

where they are obviously of little or no use. In my experience that

is well over 95 percent of the time they are prescribed.

 

As mentioned in the article you also may want to consider taking

probiotics to optimize your GI tract, and this is especially

important if you've taken antibiotics. Antibiotics can significantly

alter the balance of bacteria in your intestine by indiscriminately

killing beneficial bacteria. We do now offer Probiotics, the purest

and highly effective probiotic available. You should also seriously

consider utilizing what is perhaps the most effective preventive

against allergens in your home: a high-quality air purifier. However,

be very careful. Most of the models out there, especially the popular

ones, don't get the job done properly.

 

My team and I have analyzed this, and the one home air purifier I now

recommend highly is the Way Healthier Air Purifier. I encourage you

to read more about it, including why the technology it uses makes it

so much more reliable and effective than other types of air

purifiers. If you take these proactive approaches, not only will you

decrease your risk of developing allergies and asthma, but also you

will strengthen your immune system helping you to avoid a need for

antibiotics in the first place.

 

 

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/

2004/06/09/antibiotics-allergies-asthma.aspx