Being around microbes in a normal setting, like soil, might help children’s defenses get stronger.(Image credit: Cavan Images via Getty Images)ShareShare by:
- Copy link
- X
Share this articleJoin the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletter
When you were little, someone may have said that messing around in the mud was beneficial since it boosts your body’s defenses. However, is there any real data to confirm this statement?
To be succinct, yes — many studies imply that getting familiar with germs early on may lessen the likelihood of children having sensitivities and disorders where the body attacks itself. That is, it might protect against conditions where the defense system wrongly fights things like allergens or body tissues.
You may like
-
High-fiber diet may ‘rejuvenate’ immune cells that fight cancer, study finds
-
A looming ‘insect apocalypse’ could endanger global food supplies. Can we stop it before it’s too late?
-
Are free radicals really that bad for you?
It appears that the small signals pushing this managing part of the defense system to expand come primarily from microbes in the gut, Graham Rook, an emeritus professor of medical microbiology at University College London, revealed to Live Science. This assembly of microbes is known as the “gut microbiome,” and it plays a vital role in our well-being. For example, some microbes aid in producing necessary vitamins, and they also help us break down food.
The initial year of life is key for the microbiome to take form. Infants get bacteria while moving through the birth canal, if delivered vaginally, and from milk if they are breastfed. As children develop, they are continually subjected to microbes from various places.
A concept known as the “old-friends hypothesis” puts forward that the bigger the spectrum of microbes we encounter in early childhood, the wider the variety of our microbiomes becomes, which enables our defense systems to be better at distinguishing friend from foe. The phrase “old friends” describes helpful, or “commensal,” microbes that exist in and on the body and do not negatively impact a person’s health.
This concept, offered by Rook in 2003, is close to the widely recognized hygiene hypothesis, suggesting that not encountering enough germs in early life causes individuals to be more likely to get immune problems. For instance, a number of studies have pointed to a connection between growing up on a working farm or having pets at home and a reduced probability of children having sensitivities, compared to kids in city environments or homes without pets.
However, the old friends hypothesis underlines the importance of encountering commensal microbes early in life, rather than infectious pathogens. Studies support this idea: Multiple pieces of research in Europe hint that coming into contact with germs at an early age doesn’t protect against sensitivities. In a 2016 review, Rook and his peers mentioned another criticism of the hygiene hypothesis: It minimizes the significance of practicing good hygiene to prevent diseases, pushing the notion that we’ve become “too clean.”
Research indicates that youngsters who are raised on farms are less prone to developing sensitivities.
On the other hand, the old friends hypothesis might give a reason for why using too many antibiotics early in life, which can rid the gut microbiome of much of its contents, and cesarean births, which keep newborns from meeting vaginal bacteria, have been linked to a higher chance of getting sensitivities.
You may like
-
High-fiber diet may ‘rejuvenate’ immune cells that fight cancer, study finds
-
A looming ‘insect apocalypse’ could endanger global food supplies. Can we stop it before it’s too late?
-
Are free radicals really that bad for you?
One study carried out in Finland checked if children in cities could have their defense systems aided with grass and soil sourced from the forest. They learned that, within a month, kids playing in the dirt had a more varied set of harmless bacteria on their skin, as well as more immune-regulating cells and signaling molecules circulating in their blood, as opposed to those using playgrounds with gravel surfaces. This shows that encountering bacteria in the dirt could give a boost to the defense system, potentially lowering the odds of it becoming too active.
Likewise, a Swedish study released in 2024 noted that children brought up on dairy farms or having pets at home were less likely to have sensitivities compared to children who weren’t. They were also shown to have more harmless bacteria in their guts, which led the study’s writers to infer that the two things might be linked.
Although the microbiome has importance, there are various other elements that play a role in an individual’s odds of getting sensitivities, like genes, Dr. Robert Wood, a professor of pediatrics at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore, told Live Science. Still, he said that encouraging kids to spend time outdoors and get dirty is usually beneficial.
However, the current understanding scientists have about the risk factors related to immune conditions may not always translate into usable advice. If you own a dog, for instance, you might be somewhat less likely to develop sensitivities compared to people without pets. However, according to Wood, you can’t simply suggest to somebody to get a dog to make sure they don’t get sensitivities.
RELATED STORIES
—Can you really be allergic to the sun?
—Cleaning product residues may be driving a deadly superbug’s antibiotic resistance
—The key to surviving superbugs may be in the dirt beneath our feet
He also mentioned that dirt in very polluted locations can be harmful to kids since it might carry dangerous contaminants. This wouldn’t be the type of dirt that you’d want children to be exposed to. Because dirt can have chemicals that might be harmful, such as lead, and parasites, care should be taken to prevent kids from breathing it in or eating it.
Editor’s note: This article was updated on Nov. 28, 2024 to include information about the Swedish study. The article was originally published on April 2, 2024.
Do you ever think about why some people build muscle quicker than others, or why freckles show up under the sun? Send us your questions regarding how the human body functions to [email protected] with the subject line “Health Desk Q,” and your question might get an answer on the website!
Emily CookeSocial Links NavigationStaff Writer
Emily writes about health topics and is based in London, United Kingdom. She obtained a bachelor’s in biology from Durham University and a master’s in clinical and therapeutic neuroscience from Oxford University. She has experience in science communication, medical writing, and local news reporting, having completed NCTJ journalism training with News Associates. In 2018, she was distinguished as one of MHP Communications’ 30 journalists to watch under 30.
Read more
High-fiber diet may ‘rejuvenate’ immune cells that fight cancer, study finds
A looming ‘insect apocalypse’ could endanger global food supplies. Can we stop it before it’s too late?
Are free radicals really that bad for you?
Chemo hurts both cancerous and healthy cells. But scientists think nanoparticles could help fix that.
Could simple blood tests identify cancer earlier?
Insomnia and anxiety come with a weaker immune system — a new study starts to unravel why
Latest in Allergies