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

Emma V Shipton; Katie Foxcroft; Marloes Dekker Nitert; H David McIntyre; Helen Barrett; Mimi Tang; Leonie Callaway

doi:10.1159/000535179

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

Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2024;185(3):212-217. doi: 10.1159/000535179. Epub 2023 Dec 15.

Authors

Emma V Shipton^{1

2}, Katie Foxcroft^{1

2}, Marloes Dekker Nitert³, H David McIntyre⁴, Helen Barrett^{4

5

6}, Mimi Tang^{7

8

9}, Leonie Callaway^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
² Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
³ School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
⁴ Mater Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
⁵ Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
⁶ Obstetric Medicine, The Royal Hospital for Women, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
⁷ Allergy Immunology, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁸ Department of Allergy Immunology, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁹ Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

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.

Keywords: Allergic diseases; Asthma; Child; Eczema; Food allergy; Pregnancy.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

Child
Eczema*
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Hypersensitivity* / therapy
Infant
Pregnancy
Probiotics* / therapeutic use
Prospective Studies

Grants and funding

This study received financial support from a RBWH Foundation Grant.