A Study on the Changes and Prognosis of Intestinal Microbiota and Function in Infants With Food Allergies

Overview

Microorganisms maintain a complex interrelationship with the human body, influencing each other. In recent years, people have gradually realized that the formation of the pediatric microecosystem is closely related to the development of gastrointestinal and even systemic immunity in children. The establishment of the pediatric microecosystem during childhood has significant implications for various diseases in adulthood. They are crucial for the host's nutrition, metabolism, resistance to pathogens, and immune function. Increasing evidence supports the association between gut microbiota abnormalities and the pathophysiology of food allergies, but the conclusions of existing clinical efficacy studies remain controversial. Previous research by the team has found that the gut microbiome has a clear impact on the occurrence and development of digestive and allergic diseases in children.

Food allergy is a harmful immunological response to the ingestion of food proteins , causing various symptoms in multiple parts of the body, such as skin itching, redness, and hives; asthma and coughing in the respiratory tract; and nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea in the gastrointestinal tract. In severe cases, it can even lead to shock and death. FA primarily affects infants and young children, with a prevalence rate of up to 10% in developed countries. A epidemiological survey in China showed that the food allergy rate among children aged 0-36 months in eight cities was 6.53%, and the incidence rate has been increasing year by year. Currently, it is believed that FA in infancy is a risk factor for later eczema, allergic rhinitis, and asthma, which can severely impact children's growth and development and quality of life, increasing the burden on families and society. It has become a public health issue worldwide. Among infant food allergies, cow's milk and egg allergies are the most common. Cow's milk protein is the most commonly used protein source in ordinary infant formulas. Cow's milk protein allergy refers to an adverse reaction mediated by the immune mechanism caused by the body's response to cow's milk protein, which can be mediated by IgE, non-IgE, or both. Studies in some Chinese cities have shown that the prevalence of Cow's milk protein allergy among infants aged 0-3 years is approximately 0.83% to 3.5%. Since cow's milk protein is essential for infant growth and development, Cow's milk protein allergy can significantly affect children's growth and development and quality of life. The pathogenesis of FA is not yet fully understood, but increasing evidence supports the involvement of abnormal gut microbiota in the pathophysiology of FA. Extensive basic research has found that certain probiotics play roles at multiple stages in the development of food allergies, including: In the intestinal lumen: regulating the structure of gut microbiota, increasing the production of secretory IgA, and modifying antigen peptides. At the intestinal mucosal level: improving intestinal mucosal permeability, stimulating the growth and differentiation of intestinal epithelial cells. At the submucosal level: regulating the function of the innate and adaptive immune systems, inducing oral tolerance, and affecting the function of the enteric neuroendocrine system. Studies have shown that bifidobacteria in the host gut can promote the development and maturation of the infant immune system, and their species composition and diversity have received significant attention regarding their impact on allergic diseases. In summary, food allergies are relatively common in infancy and have been increasing annually. Therefore, this study aims to understand the changes in the gut microbiota and its metabolites in infants with food allergies, as well as the differences in gut microbiota between children with and without immune tolerance to food allergies, and to discover related gut microbial metabolites.