Hay fever hope

It is estimated that hay fever affects up to 600 million people worldwide. As those who suffer from hay fever probably already know, peak pollen season is here...A season when grasses, plants and seeds release pollen into the air often ruining the outdoor enjoyment of the summer months for hay fever sufferers.However, there may be hope on the horizon for the hundreds of thousands of Irish people who suffer constant sneezing, itchy eyes, blocked nose and headaches as a result of hay fever. Research has revealed that a daily dose of probiotic could improve the immune status of sufferers.Scientists at the Institute of Food Research have found that the bacteria found in Yakult could modulate the body"s immune system response to grass pollen - one of the most common causes of hay fever.'This was a pilot study based on small numbers of patients, but we were fascinated to discover a response,' says research leader Professor Claudio Nicoletti. 'The probiotic significantly reduced the production of molecules associated with allergy.'Hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen or fungal spores, most commonly grass pollen. The immune system mistakes the spores for harmful invaders and produces excessive amounts of the antibody IgE (immunoglobulin type E) to bind to them and fight them off. IgE stimulates the release of histamine to flush out the spores, and this irritates the airways making them swell and produce the symptoms of hay fever.In this study, volunteers with a history of seasonal hay fever drank a daily milk drink with or without live bacteria over five months. The study was double-blinded and placebo controlled, so neither the volunteers nor the scientists knew who had been assigned the probiotic drinks. The probiotic drinks contained Lactobacillus casei Shirota, a bacterial strain that has been widely studied for its health-maintaining properties and which is unique to Yakult. Blood samples were taken before the grass pollen season, then again when it was at its peak (June), and four weeks after the end of season. There were no significant differences in levels of IgE in the blood between the two groups at the start of the study, but IgE levels were lower in the probiotic group both at the peak season and afterwards.At the same time, levels of the antibody IgG were higher. IgG is a type of antibody that in contrast to IgE is thought to play a protective role against allergic reactions.'The probiotic strain we tested changed the way the body"s immune cells respond to grass pollen, restoring a more balanced immune response', says Dr Kamal Ivory, a senior member of the research group.The changes observed may also reduce the severity of symptoms, but clinical symptoms were not measured in this study. That is one aim of further research.'These are really interesting results,' says Deirdre Jordan, science officer at Yakult Ireland. We are delighted that independent scientists found evidence of this biological activity. The project was part of ongoing research into the benefits of our probiotic strain. The Institute of Food Research is well positioned to do this kind of fundamental research, as it is unique in having the right combination of expertise in microbiology, immunology and human nutrition research.'Future studies are planned to try and determine if these significant immunological responses translate into a real reduction in the clinical symptoms of hay fever.So, if you are one of the many people who dread the approach of hay fever season, here are some simple tips from Yakult to help you take pre-emptive action and enjoy the summer season a little bit more:Keep hay fever at bay!• Keep away from freshly mown lawns and do not mow the lawn yourself.• Keep doors and windows shut at home and in the car, especially early morning and late evening when plants and flowers release pollen and air begins to cool.• Keep an eye on the pollen count forecast. When the pollen count exceeds 50 is when hay fever symptoms normally manifest.• Try to avoid spending long periods of time outdoors when it"s windy, as wind provides an easier route for pollen to come into contact with your nose, eyes, mouth and skin.• Drink a probiotic such as Yakult every day to help support your body"s natural defences.Yakult (www.yakult.ie) was developed in 1935 by Dr Shirota, at Kyoto University in Japan. Yakult has almost 75 years in bacteriological research and has achieved global recognition in the use of friendly bacteria in foods, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Research continues at the Yakult Central Institute in Japan and the company also works closely with scientific and medical communities to increase understanding of the role of friendly bacteria in health. Today Yakult is consumed by 25 million people in 31 countries and territories world-wide.