Study finds farm life in infancy may reduce allergy risk

Researchers at the University of Gothenburg and Skaraborg Hospital in Sweden have discovered that infants from farming families who have contact with animals show lower rates of allergies, according to a study published in PLOS ONE.

The research indicates that early-life animal exposure alters gut composition.

In recent decades, scientists have increasingly recognised that the gut microbiome plays a more significant role in human health than previously understood.

In this new research, Swedish scientists found evidence suggesting it may also be crucial in allergy development.

The study explains that shortly after birth, the gut microbiome is rich in facultative bacteria, which thrive in oxygen-rich environments.

These bacteria dominate newborns’ oxygen-rich intestines. As they consume oxygen, conditions become more favourable for anaerobic bacteria, which then multiply and diversify.

This shift towards anaerobic bacteria dominance and increased diversity indicates gut microbiome maturation, which is vital for immune system development and overall health.

The research team examined whether farm living during crucial early stages of gut microbiome development affects health.

They collected stool samples from 65 children at four different ages: three days, 18 months, three years, and eight years. The children were divided into three groups: those living on farms with animals, those not living on farms, and those living in non-farm homes with pets.

The findings revealed that farm-dwelling infants had seven times more anaerobic than facultative bacteria compared to non-farm infants, regardless of pet ownership.

While these differences decreased as children grew older, those living on farms showed significantly fewer allergies by age eight.