As the weather cools down, seasonal allergies enter a high incidence period, and many "allergy sufferers" experience symptoms such as red and swollen eyes, sneezing, and itchy skin. At the same time, the claim that "probiotics can resist allergies" is spreading online, and the sales of "anti allergy" probiotics on e-commerce platforms, which focus on "regulating immunity" and "improving allergic constitution", are steadily increasing. These types of products range in price from tens to hundreds of yuan, with some even claiming to improve nasal sensitivity in 7 days and intestinal health in 3 days. So, can probiotics really resist allergies? Can it replace standardized drug treatment? In response to these public concerns, the reporter recently interviewed several experts. Lack of sufficient evidence-based medicine support "Before determining whether probiotics can resist allergies, we first need to understand the mechanism of allergic reactions. ”Associate Professor Hu Qiwen from the School of Basic Medicine at the Army Medical University introduced that seasonal allergies are a complex immune disorder in the body, influenced by various factors such as genetics, environment, and individual immune status. When a body in a sensitized state comes into contact with the same allergen again, the immune system will release inflammatory mediators such as histamine and cytokines. These inflammatory mediators interact with effector cells and tissue organs in the nose, eyes, skin, and other areas, leading to typical allergic symptoms such as runny nose, red and swollen eyes, and itchy skin. The core function of commonly used anti allergic drugs in clinical practice, such as cetirizine and loratadine, is to prevent allergic symptoms by preemptively binding to histamine receptors in cells through the contained antihistamine components. So, can probiotics resist allergies through similar or other means? Hu Qiwen believes that from a theoretical perspective, certain specific probiotic strains may indirectly exert anti allergic effects by regulating the human immune system and improving intestinal barrier function. The gut is an important immune organ in the human body, and the balance of gut microbiota is closely related to the normal functioning of the immune system. This is the core logic that probiotics may be associated with allergies, "he said. However, from practical research, the anti allergic mechanism of probiotics has not been fully elucidated and lacks sufficient evidence-based medical support. Professor Wang Li from the School of Basic Medicine at the Army Medical University stated that although research on probiotics and allergies has been increasing in recent years, the results of related studies are inconsistent due to the wide variety of probiotics, complex types of allergic diseases, and significant individual differences. Wang Li gave an example that some studies have shown that certain probiotics can reduce the frequency of sneezing in patients with allergic rhinitis, but multiple controlled trials have also shown that probiotics have little effect on relieving allergic symptoms, and even if they are effective, they need to be taken for a long time to manifest, far from the "3-day effect" and "7-day improvement" claimed by businesses. More importantly, there is currently no clear research conclusion that can prove a direct causal relationship between "gut microbiota balance" and "inhibition of allergic reactions". The gut microbiota may affect immune status, but whether this effect can accurately affect the allergic process still requires more high-quality research verification, "said Hu Qiwen. Some products have no basis for their efficacy on e-commerce platforms. Most "anti allergic" probiotic products will indicate the types of bacterial strains they contain on their detail pages, such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus F-1, Lactobacillus paracasei LP-33, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GL-104, etc. Some products even claim to contain 25 types of extended spectrum bacterial strains to prove their "professionalism" and "effectiveness". So, are these strains effective? Is the more strains more effective? Vice Dean and Professor Le Tao of the School of Life Sciences at Chongqing Normal University told reporters that probiotics can be roughly divided into four categories - lactobacilli, bifidobacteria, streptococci, and others. The core function of probiotics is determined by bacterial strains, and the metabolites and targets of different strains vary greatly. Even if they belong to the same genus of lactobacilli, the effects of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus acidophilus are not completely the same. Therefore, the key to determining the effectiveness of a probiotic lies in the specific types of strains it contains, as well as whether the strain has corresponding scientific research support, rather than the more strains it contains, the better, "said Le Tao. At present, there is relatively more research on lactobacilli and bifidobacteria in the scientific community. ”Hu Qiwen stated that some studies have shown that Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG strain in lactobacilli and Bifidobacterium longum BB536 strain in bifidobacteria may have certain auxiliary effects in preventing food allergies and eczema in infants and young children. However, most of these studies are still in the exploratory stage and have not yet formed a unified clinical guideline recommendation and expert consensus. It is worth noting that many "anti allergic" probiotics belong to cross-border e-commerce products. Le Tao pointed out that such products are not restricted by China's "List of Fungi that can be used for food" and may contain strains that have not undergone domestic safety assessments, making it difficult to ensure safety. According to the "Catalogue of Non Nutrient Supplements for Health Benefits Claimed by Health Foods (2023 Edition)", currently in China, the 24 functions claimed by health foods do not include the function of anti allergy. ”Le Tao said that if a business wants to develop "anti allergy" health food, they need to apply for new functions according to regulations, provide reliable scientific research results, animal experimental data, and human clinical trial evidence, and only claim to have the function after approval. However, it is evident that most probiotic product manufacturers currently do not possess the aforementioned qualifications. Blindly taking antibiotics carries health risks. For many allergy sufferers, the appeal of "anti allergy" probiotics lies in their "natural and side effect free" nature and ability to improve physical fitness from the root. Some moderate to severe allergy patients even stop taking anti allergy drugs and rely on probiotics instead. However, relevant experts emphasize that this practice carries health risks. Hu Qiwen explicitly stated that there is currently no evidence to suggest that probiotics can replace anti allergic drug treatment. When an allergy occurs, especially in moderate to severe cases, it is necessary to use standardized medications such as antihistamines and nasal corticosteroids in a timely manner to control symptoms and avoid the spread of inflammation leading to more serious complications. If medication is stopped and only probiotics are taken at this time, it may lead to worsening allergy symptoms and even delay the timing of treatment. Probiotics can only be used as an adjunct to drug therapy at most. For example, during the period of allergy relief, taking probiotics can improve the balance of gut microbiota and assist in regulating immune status, but it cannot replace core treatment methods, "said Hu Qiwen. Le Tao suggests that if consumers have a genuine need, they should first clarify the product attributes when choosing probiotic products. If the related product is a health food, it is necessary to check whether there is a "blue hat" logo and national approval number, and at the same time verify whether the approved health functions are consistent with the promotion. Secondly, when faced with complex bacterial strain introductions, consumers should not blindly pursue "multiple strains" or "imported strains". Instead, they should pay attention to whether there are publicly available clinical research reports on the strain conducted by third-party institutions, such as whether there are studies proving that the strain has an auxiliary relieving effect on specific allergic symptoms (such as allergic rhinitis), whether the research sample size is sufficient, and whether the research results have been published in authoritative academic journals. For cross-border e-commerce products, consumers also need to confirm whether the product source is clear, whether there are Chinese labels and import inspection and quarantine certificates, to avoid purchasing "three no" products. (New Society)