A new study suggests that the presence of friendly bacteria in the gut may prevent the development of atopic dermatitis or eczema among children.

In the study, women were given probiotic supplements two to four weeks prior to delivery, and the newborns were then supplemented with the same probiotics in combination with galacto-oligosaccharides (so called pre-biotics). These children were compared to those who were given placebo (whose mothers also got placebo). The results:

While no significant difference between the supplemented and placebo groups were observed for allergic disease overall, the researchers do report that supplementation with the probiotic, prebiotic mixture was associated with a 26 per cent reduction in eczema, while atopic eczema was reduced by 34 per cent.

The authors of the study say this could be an "easily accessible, inexpensive, and safe" way of reducing eczema in infants, particularly high-risk infants.

[Image: Lactobacillus GG products, Valio]