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Probiotics can help get rid of allergies
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
American experts have discovered that probiotics, represented by microorganisms such as Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria, relieve discomfort associated with hay fever and seasonal allergies.
A new method for treating allergies was described by Professor Jennifer Denis, an employee of the Department of Dietetics and Nutrition at the University of Florida.
Hay fever is extremely common during the flowering season. The disease is caused by pollen that enters the body through the respiratory tract.
With seasonal allergies, millions of people complain of red eyes, nasal discharge, reddened skin, and a worsening of their general condition. People's sensitivity to pollen can vary: some only have flare-ups in the spring, while others experience allergies throughout the summer and even in the first month of autumn.
The most popular medications for seasonal allergies are antihistamines, topical corticosteroids, and decongestants. However, due to the abundance of side effects, not everyone can use such medications.
Probiotics are well accepted by any organism and have no negative effects: they can be used to eliminate the symptoms of seasonal allergies.
Previous studies had already led scientists to think about the effectiveness of probiotics in hay fever. It was important to determine the combination of microorganisms that would be most optimal.
According to the professor, Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria, which are “close” to humans, ensure quality digestion and maintain the balance of immunity. Previous studies used other combinations of bacteria, the effect of which was less effective in seasonal allergies.
The new study involved 173 patients with mild to moderate hay fever. The participants were otherwise healthy.
The volunteers were randomly divided into two groups. The first group took a probiotic supplement in the morning and evening, while the second group was given a placebo.
During the entire experiment, the participants did not use any anti-allergy medications, either external or internal.
As a result, the representatives of the first group noted that they felt relief and improvement in their well-being. Monitoring of the patients' condition was carried out daily.
Although scientists do not consider this experiment complete, we can already talk about the positive effect of probiotics on immune defense. Beneficial bacteria activate specific cells whose function is to control all immune processes in the body.
"It cannot be said that absolutely all probiotics can be useful for allergies. Now we are talking only about certain microorganisms - Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria, which are really capable of resisting the development of hay fever. We believe that those who suffer from moderate seasonal allergies can undergo such treatment," the professor is confident.
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