Growing up with a dog is good for your gut: Children who have a puppy are less likely to develop Crohn’s disease, a study reveals
- Crohn’s disease causes inflammation of the lining of the digestive system
- The researchers studied 4,300 first-degree relatives of people with Crohn’s disease
- Exposure to dogs – especially between the ages of 5 and 15 – is associated with healthy intestinal permeability and a lower risk of Crohn’s disease.
From Shivali Best for Mailonline
Posted: 17:38, 23 May 2022 | Updated: 17:38, 23 May 2022
They are often called “man’s best friend”, and now new research shows how having a dog can be good for the gut.
Researchers at the University of Toronto have found that young children who grow up with a family dog have healthier guts and are less likely to develop Crohn’s disease, a common inflammatory bowel disease.
“Our study seems to complement others who have examined the ‘hygiene hypothesis’, which suggests that lack of microbial exposure early in life may lead to a lack of immune regulation of microbes in the environment,” said Dr Williams Turpin. senior author of the study. .
Researchers at the University of Toronto have found that young children who grow up with a family dog have healthier guts and are less likely to develop Crohn’s disease – a common inflammatory bowel disease (stock image)
What is the microbiome?
Interest in and knowledge of the microbiota has recently erupted, as we now realize how important they are to our health.
A healthy, balanced microbiome helps break down food, protects against infections, trains our immune system and produces vitamins such as K and B12.
It also sends signals to our brains that can affect mood, anxiety and appetite.
Intestinal imbalances are increasingly associated with a number of conditions.
In 2018, researchers at the California Institute of Technology discovered the first link between gut and Parkinson’s symptoms.
The composition of our intestinal microbiota is partly determined by our genes, but can also be influenced by lifestyle factors such as diet, alcohol and exercise, and medication.
Crohn’s disease is a long-term condition that causes inflammation of the lining of the digestive system.
Inflammation most often occurs in the last part of the small or large intestine, but can affect any part of the digestive system.
“Living with Crohn’s disease can sometimes be difficult,” the NHS said.
“Unforeseen seizures and regular check-ups with your care team can disrupt your school, work and social life.”
In the study, researchers sought to find out whether raising a pet affects the risk of developing this condition in children.
The researchers studied data from nearly 4,300 first-degree relatives of people with Crohn’s disease.
They assessed several factors, including the size of the family, the presence of dogs or cats as pets, the number of bathrooms in the house, farm life, drinking unpasteurized milk and drinking water from the well.
Their analysis revealed that exposure of dogs – especially between the ages of 5 and 15 – is linked to healthy intestinal permeability and a balance between germs in the gut and the body’s immune system.
These factors may help prevent Crohn’s disease, researchers say.
“We haven’t seen the same results in cats, although we’re still trying to determine why,” said Dr. Turpin.
“Potentially, this could be due to the fact that dog owners go out more often with their pets or live in areas with more green space, which has been proven in the past to protect against Crohn’s disease.”
Crohn’s disease is a long-term condition that causes inflammation of the lining of the digestive system (image)
People who lived with more than three family members in the first year of their lives were found to be at lower risk of Crohn’s disease.
Researchers suggest that this may also improve the composition of your microbiome – which is thought to play a role in several health conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer, diabetes and high blood pressure.
While researchers hope the findings could help doctors identify patients at high risk for Crohn’s disease, they warn that further research is needed to confirm the findings.
The reasons why owning dogs and larger families appear to provide protection against Crohn’s disease remain unclear, the researchers added.
CROWN’S DISEASE EXPLAINS
Crohn’s disease is a long-term condition that causes inflammation of the lining of the digestive system.
Inflammation most often occurs in the last part of the small or large intestine, but can affect any part of the digestive system.
Common symptoms may include:
- diarrhea
- stomach ache
- fatigue (extreme fatigue)
- unwanted weight loss
- blood and mucus in your stools (stools)
Remission occurs when people with the disease go through long periods without symptoms, but these periods can be followed by an exacerbation of symptoms.
Why it happens
The exact cause of Crohn’s disease is unknown. However, research shows that a combination of factors may be responsible. They include:
Genetics – The genes you inherit from your parents may increase your risk of developing Crohn’s disease.
immune system – inflammation can be caused by a problem with the immune system that causes it to attack healthy bacteria in the gut
previous infection – a previous infection can cause an unusual response from the immune system
Smoking – Smokers with Crohn’s disease usually have more severe symptoms than non-smokers
environmental factors – Crohn’s disease is most common in Western countries such as the United Kingdom and least common in poorer parts of the world such as Africa, suggesting that the environment plays a role
Source: NHS
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