The researchers used six studies to evaluate whether breastfeeding and maternal and birth factors had any effect on a baby’s gut microbiome and allergic and asthma outcomes. Stool samples of infants taken at one month and six months after birth was used to investigate whether the gut microbiome impacted the development of regulatory T-cells, or Treg, which are known to regulate the immune system.
The study findings revealed the following:
- Breastfed babies at one month and six months had distinct microbiome compositions compared to non-breastfed babies. These distinct compositions may influence immune system development.
- Breastfed babies at one month were at decreased risk of developing allergies to pets.
- Asthmatic children who had nighttime coughing or flare-ups had a distinct microbiome composition during the first year of life.
- For the first time, gut microbiome composition was shown to be associated with increasing Treg cells.
- A mother’s race/ethnicity.
- A baby’s gestational age at birth.
- Prenatal and postnatal exposure to tobacco smoke.
- Caesarean section versus vaginal delivery.
- Presence of pets in the home.
“The immune system is designed to be exposed to bacteria on a grand scale. If you minimize those exposures, the immune system won’t develop optimally.”
“The research is telling us that exposure to a higher and more diverse burden of environmental bacteria and specific patterns of gut bacteria appear to boost the immune system’s protection against allergies and asthma,” said Dr. Johnson.
Source: NewsWise