Substance That Protects Farm Children From Developing Allergies and Asthma Later In Life Identified

That beneficial substance identified is the plant sugar molecule arabinogalactan. It has been well known for some time that children who grow up on farms are less prone to allergies and allergic asthma. However, just what it is that protects them remained a riddle for a long time until now.

European researchers collected and analyzed stable dust from diverse farms in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. What they found was arabinogalactan, a large sugar molecule, prevented excessive alertness of the immune system which would have developed into allergies and asthma.

The scientists now plan to investigate whether arabinogalactan can be used as prophylaxis or whether it is also suitable for the treatment of allergies and allergic asthma. It is conceivable that arabinogalactan could be used as spray or nose drops because it is highly water-soluble.

ReferenceArabinogalactan isolated from cowshed dust extract protects mice from allergic airway inflammation and sensitization. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2010 Jul 9.