Probiotic combo may help reduce mild seasonal allergies

Researchers have found that a probiotic combination might help in reducing symptoms of seasonal allergies such as hay fever, which cause itchy, watery eyes, sneezing and other similar symptoms. “Not all probiotics work for allergies. This one did,” said study first author, Jennifer Dennis, a doctoral student at University of Florida in the United States.

Scientists already know that the probiotic combination of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria helps maintain digestive health and parts of the immune system. The researchers wanted to know if the components in this combination would help alleviate allergy symptoms. So, they enrolled 173 healthy adults who said they suffered seasonal allergies and randomly split them into two groups — some took the combination probiotic and others took a placebo.

Each week during the eightweek experiment, participants responded to an online survey to convey their discomfort level. Scientists also analysed DNA from participants’ stool samples to determine how their bacteria changed, because probiotics aim to deliver good bacteria to the human’s intestinal system. This experiment was conducted at the height of spring allergy season. Participants reported improvements in quality of life, compared to those taking the placebo, the study showed.

PROBIOTIC COMBINATION MIGHT HELP IN REDUCING SYMPTOMS OF ALLERGIES SUCH AS HAY FEVER, WHICH CAUSES ITCHY WATERY EYES AND SNEEZING

PHOTO: ISTOCK