02.23.15
A study from Swedish researchers suggests that washing dishes in the dishwasher might increase the chances that a child will develop allergies.
According to the study, results of which appear in Pediatrics, children of parents who said they mostly washed their dishes by hand were significantly less likely to develop eczema. In addition, they were somewhat less likely to develop allergic asthma and hay fever.
The study, which included more than 1000 Swedish children who were 7 and 8 years old, was led by Dr. Bill Hesselmar of Sweden's University of Gothenburg.
Do these findings support the so-called "hygiene hypothesis," which makes the case that people in developed countries are too clean, stemming from their use of products such as hand sanitizers and detergents?
According to the journal, the hygiene hypothesis stipulates that microbial exposure during early life induces immunologic tolerance via immune stimulation, and hence reduces the risk of allergy development. Several common lifestyle factors and household practices, such as dishwashing methods, may increase microbial exposure. The aim of this study was to investigate if such lifestyle factors are associated with allergy prevalence.
According to the study, the risk of allergic disease development was further reduced in a dose-response pattern if the children were also served fermented food and if the family bought food directly from farms.
In Pediatrics online, the authors penned: “We speculate that a less-efficient dishwashing method may induce tolerance via increased microbial exposure.”
According to the study, results of which appear in Pediatrics, children of parents who said they mostly washed their dishes by hand were significantly less likely to develop eczema. In addition, they were somewhat less likely to develop allergic asthma and hay fever.
The study, which included more than 1000 Swedish children who were 7 and 8 years old, was led by Dr. Bill Hesselmar of Sweden's University of Gothenburg.
Do these findings support the so-called "hygiene hypothesis," which makes the case that people in developed countries are too clean, stemming from their use of products such as hand sanitizers and detergents?
According to the journal, the hygiene hypothesis stipulates that microbial exposure during early life induces immunologic tolerance via immune stimulation, and hence reduces the risk of allergy development. Several common lifestyle factors and household practices, such as dishwashing methods, may increase microbial exposure. The aim of this study was to investigate if such lifestyle factors are associated with allergy prevalence.
According to the study, the risk of allergic disease development was further reduced in a dose-response pattern if the children were also served fermented food and if the family bought food directly from farms.
In Pediatrics online, the authors penned: “We speculate that a less-efficient dishwashing method may induce tolerance via increased microbial exposure.”