A human milk–derived probiotic strain markedly reduced food allergy severity in a preclinical mouse study, according to research published in Scientific Reports. In the β‑lactoglobulin–induced allergy model, oral treatment with Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis CCFM1269 improved clinical signs — including less diarrhoea, better weight gain and lower overall allergy scores — and produced measurable changes in immune and gut health. The study, led by Wang R and colleagues (Sci Rep. 2026; DOI:10.1038/s41598-026-50287-7), links these clinical improvements to both immune modulation and restoration of intestinal barrier function.
Treated animals showed reduced levels of the pro‑allergic cytokines IL‑4 and IL‑17A and increased levels of IL‑10 and IFN‑γ in serum and intestinal tissues. This shift in cytokine profile suggests a move away from allergic inflammation toward a more balanced immune response. At the same time, the probiotic boosted expression of key tight junction proteins — Occludin, Claudin‑1 and ZO‑1 — which help maintain epithelial cohesion and prevent allergens from crossing the gut lining.
The researchers also reported improvements in oxidative stress markers: superoxide dismutase activity rose while malondialdehyde (a marker of lipid peroxidation) fell. Gut microbiome analysis showed that CCFM1269 reshaped bacterial composition, increasing some taxa and decreasing others previously associated with more severe allergic responses. These microbiome shifts correlated with the observed gains in immune regulation and barrier integrity, reinforcing the idea that microbial composition influences allergy outcomes.
Food allergy prevalence has been increasing worldwide, particularly among children, and growing evidence ties allergic disease to gut dysbiosis and impaired barrier function. Probiotics that restore microbial balance and support intestinal resilience are therefore under active investigation as mechanism‑based therapies rather than symptom relief alone.
The authors caution that these results are preclinical. Translation to humans remains uncertain and will require clinical trials to establish safety, efficacy and optimal dosing. If confirmed in people, human milk‑derived strains like CCFM1269 could become part of new, microbiome‑targeted strategies to prevent or treat food allergy, complementing existing therapies while addressing underlying causes.
Original Source: https://www.emjreviews.com/allergy-immunology/news/probiotic-shows-promise-in-reducing-food-allergy-symptoms/
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Publish Date: 2026-05-02 14:33:00
