Friday, January 9, 2009

Antibiotics Linked to Asthma, Allergies

Original sender's name: rpautrey2
Original sender's address: rpautrey2@yahoo.com

Antibiotics Linked to Asthma, Allergies



If allergies are making your life unbearable and you find you can't go a day without your inhaler, the real culprit
might not be your congested head; it could be the microbes in your gut. Scientists from the University of Michigan
Medical School presented findings from studies that involved laboratory mice. Results showed that antibiotics
might be responsible for producing changes in microbes in the gastrointestinal tract, which in turn could impact
the way the immune system responds to common allergens in the lungs.

Gary B. Huffnagle, associate professor of internal medicine, stated that antibiotics got rid of bacteria in the gut,
which enabled fungi to take control until the bacteria grew back after the antibiotics were discontinued.

Researchers explained the relationship between the gastrointestinal, respiratory and immune system in the body
by describing how with each inhalation, pollen and dust particles are trapped and enter the stomach with the
production of saliva and mucus created as you swallow.

In other experiments, scientists found that fungi produced oxylipins, which are molecules that could determine the
kind and severity level of immune responses. This supported the idea that fungal oxylipins in the GI tract helped
avoid the production of regulatory T cells for ingested allergens. This caused T cells in the respiratory system to
become susceptible to common allergens such as mold spores and pollen. These factors combined result in a
hyperactive immune response, which could result in allergy symptoms and in some cases, asthma.

This hypothesis was tested on mice who were administered oral antibiotics for five days and then given one oral
introduction of the yeast called Candida albicans, which was used to reproduce a steady group of microbes in
both the gastrointestinal system and intestines.

Findings from the study include:

The mice were injected with common mold spores two days after the antibiotics were stopped and possible
allergic side effects were evaluated with both groups of mice, those that were given the antibiotic and those that
were not.

The mice that were given antibiotics and exposed to C. albicans displayed higher rates of pulmonary
hypersensitivity to A. fumigatus as opposed to the mice that weren't given any antibiotics.

Based on these findings, researchers concluded the changes to both the growth of bacteria and fungi within the GI
tract disrupted the function of the regulatory T cells to lessen the immune system reaction to respiratory
allergens. Researchers expressed hope that by learning how microflora in the GI tract impacted the immune
system might hold the key to treating allergies with dietary changes or through taking probiotics, dietary
supplements responsible for producing "healthy" bacteria, in order to regulate the microbes in the gut.

Researchers stressed the importance of following a nutritious diet complete with an abundance of raw fruits and
vegetables after taking antibiotics as a way to speed up the process of bringing the microbes in the GI tract back
to healthy levels.

Science Blog May 26, 2004

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Dr. Mercola's Comments:

This is definitely something to keep in mind the next time you consider taking an antibiotic or giving one to your
children. There are certainly times when they are necessary but antibiotics are typically widely overused .

I recently posted an article describing my disdain that two out of three babies receive antibiotics by their first
birthday.

Should antibiotics be used? Absolutely. I am not opposed to their use in every circumstance, only to the reliance
on them in situations where they are obviously of little or no use. In my experience that is well over 95 percent of
the time they are prescribed.

As mentioned in the article you also may want to consider taking probiotics to optimize your GI tract, and this is
especially important if you've taken antibiotics. Antibiotics can significantly alter the balance of bacteria in your
intestine by indiscriminately killing beneficial bacteria. We do now offer Probiotics, the purest and highly effective
probiotic available. You should also seriously consider utilizing what is perhaps the most effective preventive
against allergens in your home: a high-quality air purifier. However, be very careful. Most of the models out there,
especially the popular ones, don't get the job done properly.

My team and I have analyzed this, and the one home air purifier I now recommend highly is the Way Healthier Air
Purifier. I encourage you to read more about it, including why the technology it uses makes it so much more
reliable and effective than other types of air purifiers. If you take these proactive approaches, not only will you
decrease your risk of developing allergies and asthma, but also you will strengthen your immune system helping
you to avoid a need for antibiotics in the first place.


http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/ 2004/06/09/antibiotics-allergies-asthma.aspx

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