The benefits of probiotics have been documented for some time now, with research showing that these small organisms can combat bowel conditions and even prevent eczema. There has been speculation that they may also reduce the likelihood of developing childhood asthma, however a new study conducted by scientists at the University of Alberta suggests otherwise.
According to ScienceDaily, researchers studied 4,800 children who had been exposed to probiotics either in the womb or in the first year of life. They found that the individuals who had taken probiotics were about as likely to develop asthma as those who had been given a placebo.
"Taking probiotics had no effect on the asthma rate," confirmed Meghan Azad, a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Alberta's Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, in a press statement. "We haven't shown there's any harm in giving probiotics, but it can't really be advised as a strategy to prevent asthma."
Azad added that she and her team did find a "potential association between probiotics and lower respiratory infections," but noted that more research is required in order to establish a true connection.
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