The presence of microbes specifically blocks the immune cells responsible for triggering allergies. It is well known the microbiota is involved in many mechanisms, including digestion, vitamin synthesis and host defense.The hygiene hypothesis suggests a link between a decline in infectious diseases and increase in allergic diseases in industrialized countries. Improvements in hygiene levels lead to reduced contact with microbes that is paralleled by an increased incidence in allergic and autoimmune diseases, eg type 1 diabetes.
Epidemiological studies have substantiated this hypothesis, by showing children living with farm animals – and thus with more microbial agents – develop fewer allergies during their lifetime...
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