Impact of maternal atopy and probiotic supplementation during pregnancy on infant sensitization

a double-blind placebo-controlled study

Huurre, A.
Laitinen, K.
Rautava, S.
Korkeamäki, M.
Isolauri, E.

^*Department of Pediatrics, Turku University Central Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland, ^†Department of Biochemistry and Food Chemistry and Functional Foods Forum, University of Turku, Turku, Finland, ^‡CyFlo, Turku, Finland

Correspondence: Anu Huurre, Department of Pediatrics, Turku University Central Hospital and University of Turku, Kiinanmyllynkatu 4-8, 20520 Turku, Finland. E-mail: [email protected]

Submitted 10 August 2007; revised 6 November 2007 and 26 February 2008; accepted 4 March 2008.

Clinical & Experimental Allergy 38(8):p 1342-1348, August 2008.

Summary

Background

The effects of breastfeeding and probiotics on infant sensitization still remain discrepant.

Objective

To explore probable explanatory factors in infant sensitization and the protective effect of probiotics.

Methods

Altogether 171 mother–infant pairs from an ongoing placebo-controlled double-blind study with nutrition modulation by dietary counselling and probiotic supplementation were studied. Skin prick testing was done in infants at 6 and 12 months and in mothers at third trimester of pregnancy. The breast milk concentrations of cytokines TGF-β2, soluble CD14, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-10, IL-6, IL-4 and IL-2 were measured.

Results

The risk of sensitization increased in infants with allergic mothers breastfeeding over 6 months [odds ratio (OR=4.83, P=0.005)], or exclusively breastfeeding over 2.5 months (OR=3.4, P=0.018). Probiotic supplementation had a protective effect against sensitization in infants with a high hereditary risk due to maternal sensitization (OR=0.3, P=0.023). The concentration of TGF-β2 tended to be higher in the colostrum of the mothers in the probiotic group as compared with those on placebo (probiotic/placebo ratio=1.50, P=0.073). A similar result was obtained in the subgroup of allergic mothers (probiotic/placebo ratio=1.56, P=0.094).

Conclusion

Infants of atopic mothers, specifically when breastfed exclusively over 2.5 months or totally over 6 months, had a higher risk of sensitization at the age of 12 months. This risk could be reduced by the use of probiotics during pregnancy and lactation, partly by resulting in a beneficial composition of the breast milk.