FOOD allergy severity was significantly reduced in a preclinical study investigating a human milk-derived probiotic, offering new insight into microbiome-based therapeutic strategies.
Food Allergy and the Gut Microbiota Connection
Food allergy, an immune-mediated condition driven by abnormal responses to dietary antigens, has increasingly been linked to gut microbiota imbalance and impaired intestinal barrier function.
With prevalence rising globally, particularly among children, attention has shifted towards interventions that address these underlying mechanisms rather than symptoms alone.
The gut microbiota plays a central role in regulating immune tolerance, and disruptions in microbial composition, known as dysbiosis, can trigger inflammatory pathways and compromise barrier integrity, increasing susceptibility to allergic responses.
As a result, probiotics are being explored as a strategy to restore microbial balance and support immune homeostasis.
Probiotic Reduces Food Allergy Severity
In this study, researchers evaluated Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis CCFM1269 in a β-lactoglobulin-induced food allergy mouse model.
Oral administration of the probiotic led to marked improvements in clinical symptoms, including reduced diarrhoea, improved weight gain, and lower overall allergy scores.
These benefits were accompanied by significant immunological changes.
Levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and IL-17 A were reduced, while anti-inflammatory markers IL-10 and IFN-γ were increased in both serum and intestinal tissues.
This shift suggested a restoration of immune balance, a key factor in mitigating allergic disease.
Restoring Barrier Function and Reducing Oxidative Stress
Beyond immune modulation, the probiotic appeared to strengthen intestinal barrier integrity.
Researchers observed increased expression of tight junction proteins, including Occludin, Claudin-1, and ZO-1, which are essential for maintaining epithelial cohesion and preventing allergen translocation.
Additionally, oxidative stress markers improved, with increased superoxide dismutase activity and reduced malondialdehyde levels.
These findings indicated a broader protective effect, extending beyond immune signalling to cellular resilience.
Microbiome Changes Drive Clinical Improvements
Microbiome analysis revealed that CCFM1269 reshaped gut microbial composition, increasing certain taxa while reducing others associated with food allergy severity.
Notably, these microbial shifts correlated with improvements in both immune responses and barrier function, reinforcing the link between microbiota and allergic disease.
Implications for Future Food Allergy Treatments
Given that the findings were based on a mouse model, and translation to human populations remains uncertain, further clinical studies are required to determine safety, efficacy, and optimal dosing in patients with food allergy.
Overall, the study supported the potential of human milk-derived probiotics as a novel strategy for managing food allergy by targeting its root causes.
If confirmed in human trials, such approaches could complement existing therapies and contribute to more effective, mechanism-based interventions.
Reference
Wang R et al. Human milk-derived Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis CCFM1269 alleviates food allergy by modulating gut microbiota and restoring intestinal barrier. Sci Rep. 2026;DOI:10.1038/s41598-026-50287-7.
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