Daily supplements of probiotic foods may reduce the risk of eczema in children by 58 percent, according to a new study from The Netherlands.
Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis (AD), is one of the first signs of allergy during the early days of life and is said to be due to delayed development of the immune system. According to the American Academy of Dermatologists it affects between 10 to 20 per cent of all infants.
Researchers recruited 157 pregnant women and randomly assigned them to receive the strain mixture, or placebo, for the last two weeks of pregnancy. The infants subsequently received the supplements for their first year of life. Parental-reported eczema was 58 percent lower in the intervention group during the first three months of life.
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Chapter: Probiotics,Skin Care :: 18 June 2009
