Faecalibacterium, Lachnospira, Veillonella, and Rothia. They’re impossible to pronounce, but these bacteria might be the key to reducing a child’s risk for asthma. If children acquire the four microorganisms before the third month of life asthma will not develop, Canadian scientists found. Their analysis of 319 children showed the kids were at higher risk of asthma if four types of bacteria were missing. The researchers, working at the University of British Columbia and the Children’s Hospital in Vancouver, compared the microbiome at three months and at one year with asthma risk at the age of three. Further studies showed that giving a bacterial cocktail to previously germ-free mice reduced inflammation in the airways of their pups. The finding further supports the hygiene hypothesis, suggesting that children who grow up in a much too sterile and clean environment don’t build a strong enough immune system.
Preventing asthma might be possible with right gut bacteria, study shows
More of Today's Solutions
Alabama takes step toward better maternal health with new Medicaid access bill
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a unanimous vote on April 8, Alabama lawmakers passed legislation that could significantly improve maternal health outcomes ...
Read MoreJust one week of cold water swimming may strengthen your cells, study shows
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM If you’ve ever braved a plunge into cold water, you’re familiar with the jolt it gives your senses. ...
Read MoreBritish 13-year-old finds hoard of Bronze Age artifacts with her metal detector
Thirteen year old Milly Hardwich was using her metal detector for the first time in Royston, England when she came upon something unexpected. Milly ...
Read MoreThis MIT team designed a desert shelter for humans and animals
We have often written about animal agencies at The Optimist Daily and sharing our space on the planet with our furry or winged neighbors. ...
Read More
