Microbiome and immunity
14.06.2021

How Are Allergies and the Gut Microbiome Connected?

An imbalance in the gut microbiome can contribute to various diseases. Recent studies show that allergies are also linked to the gut microbiome.

How Are Allergies and the Gut Microbiome Connected?

Surely you have heard that our immunity "resides" in our intestines. However, if the composition of the gut microbiome is out of balance, this can lead to the development of many diseases. Studies in recent years have shown that various allergies are also related to the gut microbiome. If they concern you too, then read on.

What is an allergy?

An allergy or allergic reaction is an exaggerated response of the immune system to a foreign particle, an allergen that is not inherently harmful. However, the body of the allergic person overreacts to it and a defensive reaction is triggered in the body. That is why we sneeze, our eyes water, our skin itches and so on when we are allergic.

There are countless allergens, ranging from the most well-known ones such as dust mites or pollen to rarer ones such as allergies to water or deodorant. the severity of allergy symptoms depends on just how allergic a person is to the allergen in question. The good news is that there are medications and treatments available to alleviate the symptoms of allergies.

Types of allergies

There are many types of allergies - some are seasonal and others are year-round. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, they can be divided into seven basic groups:

pollen allergy, mold, pets, insects, food, medicines, latex.

    Manifestations of allergy

    There are a range of allergy symptoms because many factors influence the body's reaction (the type of allergen, what part of the body is affected, the severity of the allergy...). However, for simplicity, we can divide them into the following groups:

    • Respiratory tract: runny nose, itchy nose, stuffy nose, sneezing, coughing, difficulty breathing, chest tightness.
    • Eyes: tearing, swelling of the eyelids, redness.
    • Skin: itching, swelling, oozing, hives, eczema.
    • Digestive tract: abdominal cramps, mark, nausea, feeling to vomit.

    However, allergies can also cause general symptoms such as dizziness, drowsiness, headache or light-headedness. In rare cases, a more severe reaction can also occur (for example, from insect bites or eating certain foods), which is known professionally as anaphylaxis (anaphylactic reaction).

    Cause of allergies

    More and more people are suffering from allergies in recent years , but experts do not have a clear answer as to why this is so. Changes in lifestyle or diet (we eat more processed foods...), but also other factors may be to blame. Allergies can also be influenced by:

    Disturbed gut microbiome as a cause of disease

    Expert estimates say that 70% of a person's total immune system is in the gut. Specifically, we owe this to the thousands of species of bacteria that inhabit our intestines. A disrupted gut microbiome can therefore mean reduced or altered immunity and the subsequent development of many diseases.

    This gut imbalance(dysbiosis) is probably caused by a combination of factors. The so-called 'vanishing microbiome theory' is discussed in scientific publications, mainly due to cleaner water, modern childbirth practices, environmental pollution and increased intake of antibiotics.

    However,recent scientific evidence suggests that the 'hygiene hypothesis', i.e. excessive cleanliness, which is thought to play a role in allergies, is incomplete and unproven by relevant evidence. Therefore, it is now more likely that the gut microbiome is one of the key factors in the development of allergies.

    This is confirmed by numerous studies in recent years that have shown a link between a disrupted gut microbiome and diseases such as celiac disease, lactose and histamine intolerance, Crohn's disease and allergies, among many others.

    Probiotics to help with allergies

    A disrupted gut microbiome in which "bad" bacteria outnumber "good" ones can be corrected with probiotics. But it's not that simple - there are countless bacteria and each of us has them in different proportions in our bodies.

    For various diseases, it is therefore advisable to undergo a molecular analysis of your gut microbiome, by which we can find out the exact composition of your gut microbiome. We will discover which strains you are missing and then mix these into a three-month personalised probiotic treatment. In the case of allergies, the body will be supplied with those strains of probiotics that can dampen the allergic reaction.

    Allergies, of course, require appropriate treatment (antihistamines, immunotherapy, corticosteroids), but probiotics can act as a prevention against the onset of allergies or as an adjunctive treatment to help alleviate symptoms. This is demonstrated by the research of Prof. Sin-Hyeog Im from South Korea, with whom we have been working closely for more than 10 years.

    If you are troubled by allergies or other ailments, don't hesitate to put yourself in the hands of experts who will fix your microbiome. Find out more about our probiotics or contact us with a question, we'll be happy to answer you.

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