A series of studies has showed that the immune system of the infants towards susceptibility to allergies and asthma is likely to be influenced by numerous factors that is responsible for the type of bacteria present in their gut, like Cesarean section delivery, breastfeeding, and gestational age at birth.
The study was conducted by a research team, headed by Dr. Christine Cole Johnson, chairperson of the Department of Public Health Sciences at Detroit-based Henry Ford Hospital, MI.
According to the researchers, the findings back the “hygiene hypothesis” postulating the idea that the exposure to pathogens during early childhood affects risk of disease in later stage of life.
The study showed that the babies who receiving breastfeeding at the age of one and six months had specific compositions of gut microbiome, which the researchers claimed may affect the development of their immune system.
Talking about the research work, Dr. Johnson said, “We have always believed that the sterile environment was not beneficial for babies. But the study showed the reason behind it. Exposure to these micro-organisms, or bacteria, in the first few months after birth actually help in the stimulation of the immune system.”
“The immune system is designed to be exposed to bacteria on a grand scale. If you minimize those exposures, the immune system won’t develop optimally,” she further said.
Several other studies have backed the findings of the current research work which consisted of six studies.
For the study, the researchers looked at the data gathered from the Wayne County Health, Environment, Allergy and Asthma Longitudinal Study (WHEALS), which analysed how do the biological and the environmental factors influence the development of asthma and allergies in early life.
The researchers took the stool samples from babies at one and six months following birth.
The babies who were breastfed at the age of one and six months were found having compositions of specific gut microbiome in comparison to those who were not breastfed. Additionally, the breastfed infants at the age of one month were at lower pet-related allergies risk. According to the researchers, the children who are not breastfed may affect their immune system development.
The researchers spotted a composition of specific gut microbiome among the children having asthma, who suffered flare-ups and night-time coughing in the first year of their life.
The studies will be presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology’s in Houston, TX.