Get pollen ready with a balanced gut microbiome

Are you one of the millions of people who suffer from hay fever each year? If so, you'll be pleased to know that there's new hope on the horizon. The introduction of remarkable phytonutrients such as DHQuercetin and different forms of vitamin C which have the potential to provide relief for those plagued by sneezing fits and other frustrating symptoms.

From around March onwards, you may find yourself struggling with allergies, and it can be incredibly frustrating not knowing how to avoid them. Hay fever can leave you feeling very tired, relying on medicine and nasal sprays to alleviate the bothersome symptoms. However, there is good news for those with pollen allergies. Research suggests that taking probiotics before the pollen season begins may help reduce the symptoms associated with this allergy.

Hay fever, or allergic rhinitis (AR), is an allergic reaction triggered by pollen—the fine powder produced by plants for seed production. Pollen is transported by insects and the wind, causing trouble for hay fever sufferers when it comes into contact with their nose, mouth, eyes, and throat. The inflammation inside the nose caused by hay fever is medically referred to as allergic rhinitis.

Look after your gut microbiome

Numerous studies have explored the connection between the gut microbiome and hay fever, indicating that these friendly gut bacteria may be able to help reduce the severity of symptoms and improve the quality of life for sufferers¹. It is believed that many allergies, including hay fever, are linked to a lack of bacterial diversity in the gut, possibly resulting from an overemphasis on hygiene in western societies. In fact, hay fever is predominantly seen in western populations.

Inflammation is a significant component of allergic rhinitis, and the friendly bacteria in your gut may play a role in help to balance the inflammatory response². In fact, studies have revealed that this gut microbes may influence key inflammatory  biomarkers like C-reactive protein (CRP) and Interleukin 6 (IL-6), which are associated with allergic rhinitis³.

Hay fever and allergies are often linked to a disruption of the microbiome resulting in an imbalance in the microbiota, also called gut dysbiosis. Experts often recommend supplementing with a daily probiotic to help repopulate healthy bacteria in the gut microbiome⁴.

A very interesting study investigated the effect of Bifidobacteria mixture (B. longum, B. infantis, and B. breve) for  AR symptoms and quality of life in children with pollen-induced AR and intermittent asthma⁵.

To help you get prepped and primed for pollen season choose a probiotic supplement that contains at least 20 different microbial strains and is high strength which means looking for at least 20 billion cfu per capsule. By supporting your gut this season you should hopefully be able to enjoy the great outdoors without your normal sniffles and sneezes.

Nutrient Neu Biotic has 20 live bacteria strains which naturally reside in the gut flora. It contains B. longum, B. infantis, and B. breve. Plus different Bifidobacterium strains, 13 different Lactobacillus strains, Streptococcus thermophilus and Enterococcus faeciu. 

REFERENCES

1. Jianghua Li et al., (2023) The gut microbiome and allergic rhinitis; refocusing on the role of probiotics as a treatment option. European archives of otorhinolaryngol, 280(2):511-517.

2. Liu P et al., (2022) Research Advances in the Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis by Probiotics, Journal of Asthma and Allergy, 15: 1413—1428.

3. Milajerdi A et al., (2020) The effect of probiotics on inflammatory biomarkers: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials, European Journal of Nutrition. 59(2):633-649

4.Hooi-Leng Ser et al., (2022) IDDF2022-ABS-0236 Healing the GUT with probiotics: can probiotics help relieve allergic rhinitis? Gut, 71:A63-A64.

5. Del Giudice MM, Indolfi C, Capasso M, Maiello N, Decimo F, Ciprandi G. Bifidobacterium Mixture (B Longum BB536, B Infantis M-63, B Breve M-16V) Treatment in Children With Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis and Intermittent Asthma. Ital J Pediatrics (2017) 43(1):25. doi: 10.1186/s13052-017-0340-5