[转载]益生菌的有趣研究
(2011-05-31 18:52:16)
标签:
转载 |
真好, 转载! 谢谢呀!
What do we know already?
Probiotics are tiny organisms, usually bacteria, which occur naturally in some foods (such as yoghurt) and are added to others (such as milk and soya drinks). They are also available as supplements.
Probiotics are often called 'friendly bacteria' because they help with digestion and protect against some types of harmful bacteria. Studies also show they may help the immune system to develop and reduce the risk of allergies, which occur when the immune system overreacts to something harmless, like pollen. This has led researchers to wonder whether probiotics might be used to prevent some allergy-related conditions, such as eczema.
Eczema is a skin condition that makes patches of skin become dry, red and itchy. It is very common, particularly among children. About 16 in 100 children in the UK have eczema.
Some studies have found that children have a lower risk of eczema if they are given probiotics as babies. However, these studies have looked mainly at children who have a family history of eczema and are at high risk, rather than children in general. Also, few studies have explored whether giving mothers probiotics while pregnant or breastfeeding might have a beneficial effect.
To help fill these gaps, Norwegian researchers have now done a study of 415 pregnant women who were planning to breastfeed their babies. Half of the women drank milk with probiotics from the 36th week of their pregnancy until their baby was 3 months old. The other half drank identical milk that contained no probiotics. The researchers then followed up the women two years later to find out whether their children had eczema.
What does the new study say?
Children born to women who drank the probiotic milk were half as likely to have eczema at age 2 than those whose mothers drank the regular milk. And the children in the probiotics group who did develop eczema had less severe symptoms overall. These results didn't change when the researchers factored in other things that might have affected the children's risk of having eczema and other allergies, such as whether their mother smoked, whether they were breastfed for only a short time, and whether they started eating food before age 6 months.
Interestingly, the children most likely to benefit from probiotics were those with no family history of eczema or related allergies. This suggests, say the researchers, that widespread use of probiotics by pregnant and breastfeeding women might be worthwhile for curbing rates of childhood eczema.
How reliable are the findings?
These findings should be quite reliable as the study was a randomised, double-blind controlled trial. This is the best type of study for finding out whether a treatment works.
However, one-third of the women dropped out of the study before it finished. This is slightly more than the researchers anticipated, which weakens their results, although not substantially.
Where does the study come from?
The study was done by researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. It was funded by the Norwegian Research Council, Siemens Medical Solutions Diagnostics AS and a research foundation called Nidarosfondet. The study appeared in the British Journal of Dermatology, which is owned by the British Association of Dermatologists.
What does this mean for me?
This study adds to a growing body of research showing that probiotics may be useful in preventing eczema in young children. You may find this interesting if you are pregnant or have recently had a baby. And the idea of taking probiotics yourself – rather than giving them to your infant – may also appeal to you.
However, studies have yet to reveal exactly how probiotics might help prevent eczema and which 'friendly bacteria' work best. This study used three probiotics that have had positive results in other research: Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, Lactobacillus acidophilus La-5 and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Bb-12.
What should I do now?
If you're pregnant or breastfeeding and interested in taking probiotics, talk to your doctor or midwife. Although these 'friendly bacteria' are unlikely to cause serious side effects, it's best to check before making any changes to your diet when you're pregnant.