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Childhood Germ Exposure Improves Future Health
December 20, 2009
We are entering one of those phases in scientific history when old beliefs and paradigms crumble. The evidence of a cataclysmic shift is everywhere. One case in point is a new study showing that exposure to infectious germs1 as a child conditions the immune system to be more fit, resulting in less later life inflammation (much lower CRP) and therefore a significantly less risk for cardiovascular disease (not to mention a host of other inflammation-driven aging-related health issues). Of course, such a finding drives the germ-paranoid public health system wacky – as the fading paradigm of Western medicine is based on stamping out germs at all costs.
“Contrary to assumptions related to earlier studies, our research suggests that ultra-clean, ultra-hygienic environments early in life may contribute to higher levels of inflammation as an adult, which in turn increases risks for a wide range of diseases,” said Thomas McDade, lead author of the study. “In the U.S we have this idea that we need to protect infants and children from microbes and pathogens at all possible costs. But we may be depriving developing immune networks of important environmental input needed to guide their function throughout childhood and into adulthood. Without this input, our research suggests, inflammation may be more likely to be poorly regulated and result in inflammatory responses that are overblown or more difficult to turn off once things get started.”
C-reactive protein is an inflammatory compound that is naturally elevated to fight infection (fighting infection always involves initiating a variety of inflammatory systems). Almost all diseases of aging are associated with higher levels of low grade inflammation like CRP. The researchers were able to show that babies with higher infection/germ exposure had far lower CRP as adults.
The take-home message is that letting a child's immune system learn how to fight infection develops a type of inflammatory fitness which likely spills over to many health topics later in life.
“Contrary to assumptions related to earlier studies, our research suggests that ultra-clean, ultra-hygienic environments early in life may contribute to higher levels of inflammation as an adult, which in turn increases risks for a wide range of diseases,” said Thomas McDade, lead author of the study. “In the U.S we have this idea that we need to protect infants and children from microbes and pathogens at all possible costs. But we may be depriving developing immune networks of important environmental input needed to guide their function throughout childhood and into adulthood. Without this input, our research suggests, inflammation may be more likely to be poorly regulated and result in inflammatory responses that are overblown or more difficult to turn off once things get started.”
C-reactive protein is an inflammatory compound that is naturally elevated to fight infection (fighting infection always involves initiating a variety of inflammatory systems). Almost all diseases of aging are associated with higher levels of low grade inflammation like CRP. The researchers were able to show that babies with higher infection/germ exposure had far lower CRP as adults.
The take-home message is that letting a child's immune system learn how to fight infection develops a type of inflammatory fitness which likely spills over to many health topics later in life.
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