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In the News – Summer 2023: Early Pet Exposure May Reduce Risk of Childhood Food Allergies
Children with exposure to certain types of pets during fetal development or early infancy were found to have lower incidence risk of food allergies in a large-scale study from Japan. The researchers analyzed data on over 65,000 infants from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study, conducting local regression analysis for pet species, causative food, and timing of exposure.
The study, published in PLOS ONE, found that exposure to cats or indoor dogs (but not outdoor dogs) reduced the overall risk of developing food allergies by about 14% until the age of 3, beyond which data was not available. In general, the greatest benefit was seen when the exposure occurred during both the fetal period and early infancy. Children with exposure to indoor dogs were less likely to develop egg, milk, and nut allergies, while those with exposure to cats were less likely to develop egg, wheat, and soybean allergies. In contrast, hamster exposure was associated with increased risk of nut allergy.
Although the mechanism by which pet exposure may affect allergy risk is not yet clear, the authors point out several hypotheses that have been proposed, including changes to the infant’s gut microbiota, an increase in endotoxin levels in the home, or an effect on the skin barrier function. As this was a questionnaire-based survey, further research is needed to more accurately assess the associations found.
Sources: Living with pet cats or dogs is associated with fewer food allergies in young children, study finds. Science Daily, March 30, 2023. sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/03/230330102230.htm.
Okabe H, Hashimoto K, Yamada M, et al. (2023) Associations between fetal or infancy pet exposure and food allergies: The Japan Environment and Children’s Study. PLOS ONE, 2023; 18(3): e0282725. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0282725.
Published in the Journal of Health and Healing™
Summer 2023 | Volume 47, Number 2
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