A team of international scientists is working on a “farm dust” treatment to prevent children from developing allergies. The inspiration comes from studies that show the protective benefits for allergic rhinitis (even in adulthood) of a childhood spent in the countryside.
The latest results in chronological order come from a German analysis. They are very recent, June 2022, and were published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (I link them to you here). This is not a joke: over 13.000 children analyzed in Germany and lived in the countryside have retained protection from allergies even after moving to the city and in the following years.
What would be the secret of 'farm dust'?
Scientists believe that substances in barnyard dust and the benefits of consuming unprocessed milk may be involved in protecting against allergies. The theory is that the variety of microorganisms they contain help strengthen the body's defenses.
The goal of the research? To obtain within 5 years a product, or rather two (a milk and a powder preparation) for the prevention of allergies.
“We are working to develop a treatment that in the best way prevents asthma and allergies ". To say it is Erika von Mutius, pediatrician at the Helmholtz Research Center and the Children's Hospital of the University of Munich. “There is a lot of promising work and we are slowly getting there.”
Microbial diversity is strength against ALLERGIES
“Our findings are in line with the hypothesis that the window of opportunity for allergy prevention due to exposure to environments rich in microbial diversity lies somewhere in childhood.”
For many years the goal of science has been to protect children from potential allergens in the environment. Now the approach could change, moving towards "controlled" exposure: a way to scientifically recover some positive aspects that we no longer have in our lifestyle.
One of the factors that can be involved in the increase in childhood allergies (now dizzying) is the narrowest range of microorganisms to which young children are exposed. In fact, the study reads, we are depriving our immune system of the intelligence to be able to suppress allergic pathways.
With a proud and hopeful conclusion: "We firmly believe that through scientific research we can work to deliver allergies to the past"
From the altar to the dust. On the farm, of course.
