The occurrence of allergic diseases has risen dramatically in Western societies. One frequently cited reason is that children are less exposed to microorganisms and have fewer infections than previous generations, thereby delaying maturation of the immune system.

A study by researchers at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, monitored children until the age of three to examine maturation of the immune system in relation to allergic disease. All of the children lived in rural areas of the Västra Götaland Region, half of them on farms that produced milk. The children who lived on farms that produce milk run one-tenth the risk of developing allergies as other rural children.

The same research showed that pregnant women may benefit from spending time on dairy farms to promote maturation of the fetal and neonatal immune system.

"Our study also demonstrated for the first time that delayed maturation of the immune system, specifically B-cells, is a risk factor for development of allergies," says Anna-Carin Lundell, one of the researchers.

Comment:  Has anyone else noticed that most of the really meaningful research on human health seems to come from abroad while our domestic research is focused on protecting the financial interests of pharmaceutical and bio-tech companies?

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