Is there a relationship between gut health and allergy?

For good gut health, ensure a healthy diet that is rich in fibre.

Believe it or not, gut health has a lot to do with how our bodies react to allergens. After all, as much as 70% of the immune system “reside” in the gut, where gut microbiota come into play – the good bacteria not only aid in the process of food digestion, it also plays a crucial role in the body’s immune response.

A growing number of studies show increasing links that support this.

However, with the widespread use of antibiotics, diets high in fat and low in fibre and Caesarean births, negative changes are occurring in our gut microbiota.

New research shows that both the type and mix of microbiota can have a big influence on an infant’s developing immune system, and by extension, his risk of developing allergies such as asthma, eczema, hives and food allergy.

What is an allergy?

An allergy is a response triggered by the body’s immune system when it reacts to otherwise harmless substances such as dust, pollen, or certain types of foods.

The substances that cause the allergies are known as allergens.

Unfortunately, people with allergies often have to learn to live with it by managing their lifestyles in order to minimise contact with allergens.

There is also growing evidence linking gut health with better allergic response – certain types of bacteria were reported to minimise or even eliminate food allergy symptoms in the laboratory.

Gut health starts from birth

Studies have shown that infants who suffer from allergic disease or developed it later all had measurable alterations in their intestinal microbiota.

Babies who are breastfed may have lower risk of allergies. Photo: Shutterstock

It was also found that perinatal administration of beneficial bacteria halved the development of atopic eczema during the first two years of life.

Two key factors that are known to lower the risk of allergy and asthma from developing are breastfeeding and natural birth. The gastrointestinal (GI) system of a foetus is sterile, and both natural childbirth and breastfeeding will help to seed your infant’s GI system with gut microbiota.

These bacteria will, in turn, affect the development of his immune system.

Another study also showed that breastfed babies had a more diverse gut microbiota than non-breastfed babies and were less likely to develop allergies to pets.

Keeping your gut healthy

Since your child’s gut is responsible for a large part of his body’s immune system, it is to your benefit to keep his guts healthy.

There are three main things to know in order to keep his gut healthy:

Prebiotics – These are essentially food for good bacteria. Most plant-based foods that are rich in fibre represent excellent sources of prebiotics, such as fruits and vegetables. Examples include apples (with the skin), oranges, banana, onions and garlic, shallots, leeks, beans, legumes, asparagus and wholegrains. For infants who have just started complementary feeding, use a blender to prevent choking hazards.

Probiotics – The good bacteria themselves! By including probiotic-rich foods in your child’s diet, you will be ensuring that his gut microbiota is balanced. Recommended foods include miso, natto, kefir, and fermented milk/soy products (eg tempeh). Probiotics are also available as supplements. However, you should discuss with your child’s paediatrician before giving him any.

Cut down consumption of fat, sugar and salt to ensure good gut health.

Beware of medicines – Certain medications (especially antibiotics) may lead to a condition known as dysbiosis or dysbacteriosis, which basically means that the balance of gut microbiota has been severely compromised.

Since more disease-causing bacteria are becoming more antibiotic-resistant, demanding an antibiotic prescription for your child may not be the best answer. However, if it is necessary, then consult with a paediatrician to see how his gut microbiota can be replenished.

Good habits for gut health

After ensuring that your child gets enough prebiotics and probiotics, you should also ensure that he maintains certain habits to help ensure good gut health. These include:

• Make sure he drinks sufficient water daily.

• Give him a healthy diet that is rich in fibre on a daily basis.

• Limit his intake of fat, sugar and salt.

• Allow him to have at least one hour of exercise a day. This can be any kind of physical games that involve some form of aerobic activity such as football or running.

Finally, always bear in mind that your child’s gut health can be harmed by external factors, such as the food he eats. There are even studies revealing how changes in a person’s diet caused alterations in their gut microbiota within a day.

The saying “you are what you eat” certainly seems to be very apt.

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Dr Amir Hamzah Abdul Latiff is a consultant paediatrician and consultant clinical immunologist/allergist. This article is courtesy of the Malaysian Paediatric Association’s Positive Parenting programme in collaboration with expert partners. For further information, visit www.mypositiveparenting.org. The information provided is for educational and communication purposes only and it should not be construed as personal medical advice. Information published in this article is not intended to replace, supplant or augment a consultation with a health professional regarding the reader’s own medical care. The Star disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.