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Can Probiotics and Fermented Foods Help with Food Allergies?

Ask the Allergist Service 1/6/259:03 AM

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Question

Can probiotics and fermented foods help with food allergies? Are they recommended?

Answer

Major clinical guidelines currently do not recommend probiotics to treat or prevent food allergies. There isn’t a lot of consistent evidence about what specific strains of bacteria, dosages, and length of treatment would be effective in people with food allergies.

More research is needed in this area so we can have clear guidelines. Also, there are no current or specific recommendations for using fermented foods to manage food allergies.

Talk with your doctor about these topics.

Categories

Food Allergy, Treatment

Answered by

John M. James, MD, is a board-certified allergist. He is also President of Food Allergy Consulting and Education Services, LLC. He has worked as a medical specialist in the field of allergy, asthma, and immunology for over 30 years. Dr. James received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas and his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Tennessee. He is board certified by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology.

Reviewed and Answered

December 16, 2024

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