Antibiotics are without a doubt good: imagine where we would be if not for the discovery of penicillin. But they are not only brutal to unwanted bacteria – the good bacteria in your digestive track is destroyed as well. And it seems that one side effect turns out to be the inability to break down certain foods – a food allergy.
With that reason in mind, a cure may be around the corner: build back your stock of good bacteria. It seems to work for mice; will it next work for primates and humans too?
/via +Daniel Ely Rankin
NYU medical researchers may have discovered a cure for food allergies in the form of a bacterial solution.
I always wondered about peanut allergies and why I never heard anything about them the first half of my life. Antibiotics! Makes sense, and what else might we discover in future about these and other drugs in common use?
+Valdis Kletnieks I don't think it does address the problem. It simply states one strong linkage, and suggests a preventative action (although preventative actions don't necessarily work 'when it's too late').
+Sophie Wrobel Oh, I didn't say it was impossible to desensitize somebody. I'm just not seeing how this particular research addresses the desensitization problem…
Several people claim to have overcome their sensitivity through various methods. Some tests of those claims would be interesting to see or at least statistics if Available.
To be fair, the article talks about the role of the bacteria in preventing initial sensitizing to an allergen – keeping you from becoming allergic in the first place. It's not at all clear that this research has any real bearing on curing/treating those who have already become sensitized.
Yes, We just carry our epipen, and hope severity will lessen as body changes/matures.
+deborah rabbit white i hope a cure for inborn conditions comes one day too! It's true that what is described in this article is the term that common folk call allergies, which include anaphylactic reactions, but also intestinal flora issues, psychological conditioning issues (see a previous post on why wheat allergies are more often than not a sham), and potentially other things.
Inborn allergic reactions are usually only treatable with additional substances to prevent the reaction or by avoidance, at least with today's stand. on a related note, for some conditions you can suppress the allergic effect at a cost of a drug cocktail for around 800 a month, not covered by public health insurance and with side effects.
+Anders Sandberg – thanks, for the links. It is an interesting finding.
+Sandy Orenstein
Check out the explanation in Science, http://news.sciencemag.org/biology/2014/08/gut-microbe-stops-food-allergies or the original papser http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2014/08/21/1412008111 – there is a fair chance of misunderstanding for every step in the chain.
The author lost me with reference to the bacteria mice "create". What else has been misunderstood or poorly depicted?
+BRUCE DEMELLO There is no GMO in the paper. In fact, it is about reintroducing the right natural microbiota. (The purity/naturalness heuristic that drives many to be negative to GMO is in many ways a memetic autoimmune condition that leads to automatic scepticism of any intervention).
Say no to GMO.
This is real serious stuff. The condition caused by the antibiotics can be degenerative and eventually lead to lupus.
Yeah this isn't about allergies, it's about indigestion
Yes. I was hoping the article had something positive for those who suffer that kind of allergy.
+deborah rabbit white , that would be an extreme allergy – many allergies are considered as intolerances; they cause issues when they hit the intestines, and can be quite severe … ahmm, the bowel tends to reject it somewhat forcefully.
What you're describing is anaphylactic shock. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anaphylaxis
Okay, still clears nothing for me. My child had the opposite of all the listed possible elements that could be possible causes of allergy.
1. Mom milk until around 5 (i know it 's unusual, I didn't plan it – it just happened that way)
2. no cesarean
3. no sugars until over age of two,
4. only two antibiotic usages once at 3 months once at 7.
5. vegetarian diet with supplements…
This allergy is frightening for us.
I do not really get it, as my child just touches a pecan to lips and severe reaction begins. Doesn't even reach the gut.
There has only been 2 usages of antibiotics in 8 years. ?
I will read the other link provided in comments.
+Michael-Forest M.But if the food allergen gets broken down before triggering the immune system, then no reaction. Or maybe gets broken down by microbe A rather than microbe B.
Edit :More detail found here:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/08/140825152016.htm
Typo alert: "tract", not "track".
Food allergies are not the inability to break down certain foods—allergies are an immune response. Lactose intolerance, on the other hand, is an inability to break down certain things. That said, this is great news!
We got our 6 year tested for peanuts again. Negative. But she does not like them.