Give birth in old age increase the risk of food allergies in children

(Photo: thinkstock)

Pregnancy in older age are known to have health risks to the health of infants and mothers. Even recently, a study showed that mothers who give birth normally in older age has been linked to the risk of food allergies in children.

A study showed that children who are allergic to a certain thing, having pathogenic bacteria such as Clostridium difficile and Staphylococcus aureus are higher and have lower levels of the probiotic bacteria such as Bifidobacteria.

Though bacteria Bifidobacteria help promote tolerance for nonbacterial antigens, primarily by inhibiting the development of proallergic response. Research conducted at Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, United States, suggest that probiotic supplementation may help treat allergic disorders.

A later study conducted to investigate whether the amount of intestinal flora in children affected by perinatal (from 20-28 weeks gestation until 1-4 weeks after birth) and other factors such as caesarean births, use of antibiotics, and time in hospital neonatal care.

Researchers reviewed the records of 192 children born to healthy and 99 children are diagnosed with food allergies, as well as records relating to the method of delivery, perinatal exposure to antibiotics, and so on. The research is reported in the Journal of Nutrition, as reported by Medindia on Tuesday (27/11/2012).

The results showed that exposure to antibiotics perinatal, neonatal treatment time, and cesarean delivery is not associated with an increased risk of food allergies. In addition, a baby boy is much more at risk of food allergy compared against each girl.

Surprisingly, the results also showed that older maternal age at delivery related to the amount of intestinal flora in infants and a higher risk of food allergies.

This happens because the baby had been colonized by gut microbes at birth, which is derived from maternal gut and vaginal canal. Older women and vaginal delivery are known to have good bacteria Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli are fewer, so that children are more susceptible to allergies.

Source:  Medindia