Hay Fever Allergies

Hay fever allergies are caused by an over-sensitive immune response. The immune system normally protects the body against harmful substances, but in a few individuals the immune system reacts to substances that are harmless to most people.

When a sensitive person breathes in an allergen such as pollen or dust, antibodies are produced which cause histamine and other chemicals to be released. This causes itching, swelling, and mucus production. Symptoms can vary.

When your immune system mistakes pollen spores, fungal spores, airborne chemicals, or dust particles for harmful invaders, the white blood cells make substances called immunoglobulins [Ig] which bind to the pollen or dust particle and fight them off. This is allergic rhinitis.

The most common allergic response is to grass pollen which is thought to be responsible for 90% of hayfever.

The science of hay fever allergies

If the immune system mistakes pollen spores for harmful invaders then the white blood cells - T-helper type 2 (Th2) lymphocytes - produce protein-like cytokines such as interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5 and IL-6, which in turn promote the synthesis of the immune chemicals immunoglobulins (Ig) which bind to the particle.

When a small group of volunteers took the probiotic Lactobacillus casei Shirota, it significantly reduced the production of IL-5, IL-6, IFN-gamma and IgE. Immunoglobulin E (IgE) is the main antibody associated with an allergic response.

At the same time IgG production slightly increased.

Lactobacillus casei Shirota is to be found in the fermented drink Yakult.

A study on seasonal allergic rhinitis

Ten volunteers with hay fever allergies (seasonal allergic rhinitis) took part in a double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial for five months Half of them consumed a daily drink of Lactobacillus casei Shirota whilst the others drank a placebo.

The conclusion: "Changes in antigen-induced production of cytokines were observed in patients treated with probiotics. These data show that probiotic supplementation modulates immune responses in allergic rhinitis and may have the potential to alleviate the severity of symptoms."¹

It is worth noting that a study specifically on seasonal allergic rhinitis caused by pollen from the Japanese cedar tree reached a different conclusion. "These results indicate that fermented milk containing LcS (Lactobacillus casei Shirota) does not prevent allergic symptoms in patients sensitive to JCP, but may delay the occurrence of allergic symptoms in patients with moderate-to-severe nasal symptom scores."²

As Lactobacillus casei Shirota is readily available in most countries around the world, this is good news for anyone who suffers from hay fever allergies caused through grass pollen and is looking at natural hayfever remedies.

REFERENCES

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