Kefir May Help Protect Against Allergies
Posted on: Monday, 16 October 2006, 15:00 CDT
Feeding babies kefir, a traditional fermented drink consumed in Eastern Europe, may help to protect against some food allergies, says a Taiwan study.
The alcoholic milk is often used to wean babies, as it is easily digested, but the friendly bacteria in kefir may play a role in blocking the pathway involved in allergic responses, according to the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture.
The milk drink inhibits the allergen specific antibody Immunoglobulin E, or IgE, which is involved in immune responses to inactivate organisms that might cause disease. However, in the presence of allergens it can also activate cells responsible for the release of histamine, a chemical which stimulates allergic responses, such as inflammation and constriction of airways, according to researchers at the National Formosa University, in Yunlin, Taiwan
Food allergy prevalence is especially high in children under the age of 3, with around 5 percent to 8 percent of infants at risk. Currently the only treatment is avoidance of the problematic food.
Source: United Press International
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