OFFSPRING: A SPRING Follow-Up Study Assessing the Efficacy of Maternal Probiotics and Allergic Disease in the Child

Abstract

Introduction: There are a variety of factors that contribute to the development of allergic diseases in children, including environmental exposures during the maternal prenatal period. It has been proposed that probiotic supplementation during pregnancy could be used as a possible preventative measure to target childhood allergic disease. Methods: Participants from a previously conducted prospective double-blind randomised control trial of probiotics versus placebo study (Study of PRrobiotics IN Gestation) were sent electronic questionnaires to complete about their child, who are now between 3 and 7 years of age. Demographic data and rates of allergic diseases were compared between the two groups. Results: One hundred and seven women responded to the questionnaires. Between the two groups, there was no difference in the frequency of allergic diseases, with similar rates of eczema, asthma, and hospital presentations seen. Conclusion: In this follow-up study, infants of mothers who were exposed to probiotics during their pregnancy do not appear to have any paediatric health advantages in terms of allergic diseases.