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Article: The neonatal immune system and risk of allergy a delicate balancing act, positively influenced by probiotics and fatty acids.
- Article from:
- Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients
- Article date:
- February 1, 2002
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 The Townsend Letter Group. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Abstract
Type 1 allergic hypersensitivity now affects 1 in 7 children born in Western countries. It is now recognized that the correct and balanced development of the neonatal immune system plays a pivotal role in the risk of allergy inception, and that the development of the immune system in the newborn is dependent on exposure to the intestinal microflora which is acquired directly following birth.
In this regard, the intestine has been described as the "classroom" of immunological education and there appears to be a distinct relationship between the establishment of the neonatal intestinal microflora and the development of allergic sensitization.
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