Reasonable dietary supplements may relieve allergy symptoms

Intake of high energy, high saturated fat, high protein and low fiber foods will increase the risk of asthma and allergic rhinitis; intake of more vegetables and fruits, olive oil and fish will reduce the occurrence of asthma and allergic rhinitis risks of. In addition, adequate micronutrient intake is associated with a reduced risk and symptoms of atopic diseases such as allergic rhinitis.

Itchy and watery eyes, sneezing and runny nose, coughing and wheezing, itchy skin... Many people around us have experienced various allergic symptoms. Severe allergic diseases can even be life-threatening.

In the past 30 years, the global incidence of allergic diseases has greatly increased, and the global prevalence rate currently exceeds 22%. Therefore, allergic diseases are also listed by the World Health Organization as one of the three major diseases to be prevented and treated in the 21st century.

In recent years, a large number of clinical studies and animal experiments have shown that diet and nutrition are closely related to the occurrence and severity of allergic diseases. Recently, researcher Zhang Ping of the Biodiversity Research Group of Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, systematically organized and reviewed relevant literature on this topic. The relevant results were published in the international nutrition journal "Nutrients".

Allergic diseases are closely related to many factors

Allergic diseases, also known as allergic diseases, are long-term inflammatory diseases of mucosal tissues caused by the body's excessive immune response to allergens. "Research has found that the incidence of allergic diseases, including asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis, is very high in developed countries; while in developing countries, the sharp increase in the incidence of allergic diseases may be due to the impact of life. The influence of Westernized methods." Zhang Ping introduced.

In addition to factors such as lifestyle, foreign scholars have found that intestinal microbiota is also significantly related to allergic diseases. Food components play a key role in shaping the intestinal microbiota and are essential for maintaining the integrity of the intestinal epithelial barrier and intestinal immune homeostasis.

In recent decades, the prevalence of obesity and allergic diseases has been increasing globally, and the connection between obesity and individual allergic diseases has aroused great interest. A large number of studies have confirmed that obesity is one of the factors leading to asthma and has a negative impact on prognosis. Obesity may increase the risk of allergic rhinitis in children, a recent analysis suggests. In addition, obesity can worsen inflammation in severe persistent allergic rhinitis.

In addition, there is also a close connection between nutritional metabolism and allergic diseases. Nutrients and their endogenous or bacterial metabolites can modulate allergic inflammation in distant organs beyond the gut via the gut-lung and gut-cutaneous axes.

Controlling calories and taking dietary supplements appropriately can help improve allergy symptoms

Different diets, with different nutritional compositions and varying amounts of specific nutrients, can have different effects on allergic reactions—either promoting sensitization and exacerbating the disease, or preventing allergic disease and slowing its progression.

Studies by foreign scholars have shown that the intake of high-energy, high-saturated fat, high-protein and low-fiber foods will increase the risk of asthma and allergic rhinitis; in contrast, a Mediterranean-style diet, such as eating more vegetables and fruits , olive oil and fish, will reduce the risk of asthma and allergic rhinitis. In addition, adequate micronutrient intake is associated with a reduced risk and symptoms of atopic diseases such as allergic rhinitis.

“There is increasing evidence that nutrients and dietary components such as vitamins, minerals zinc, iron, dietary fiber, fatty acids and phytochemicals, through host and gut microbiota-derived metabolites, play a role in preventing or treating allergies. It plays a key role in the disease," Zhang Ping said.

Additionally, although results are limited, studies have shown that weight loss is associated with improvement in atopic dermatitis symptoms. In one case report, weight loss with a combination of diet and exercise improved skin lesions in an obese patient unresponsive to standard cyclosporine; another randomized controlled study showed that weight loss as measured by the Eczema Area and Severity Index Weight loss in obese patients with atopic dermatitis is associated with significant improvement in atopic dermatitis symptoms, as measured by cyclosporine dose.

"Through comprehensive analysis, we found that a large number of studies have shown that controlling the intake of calories and animal foods, and increasing the intake of vegetable supplements, vitamins, dietary fiber, trace elements and other dietary supplements can be of great help in alleviating allergic symptoms." Zhang Ping emphasized , excessive caloric intake, excessive protein and saturated fatty acid intake, or lack of dietary fiber and micronutrients will trigger the defense mechanism of the immune system and trigger allergic reactions. Therefore, calorie restriction, coupled with adequate dietary fiber and adequate macronutrient intake, is critical to maintaining immune tolerance to allergens.