Growing up on a farm leads to lifelong protection against allergic rhinitis

Eriksson, Jonas; Ekerljung, Linda; Lötvall, Jan; Pullerits, Teet; Wennergren, Göran; Rönmark, Eva; Torén, Kjell; Lundbäck, Bo

doi:10.1111/j.1398-9995.2010.02397.x

Cited by 61 publications

(81 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Our results on childhood asthma and farming lifestyle are consistent with previous studies [6]. The lower prevalence of adult-onset asthma in females born in a rural environment is consistent with the hypothesis of a beneficial effect of continuous exposure, independently of others environmental factors or behaviours in adulthood [26][27][28][29][30][31].…”

Section: Feasibility and Validation Of Ecological Indicators Of Contasupporting

confidence: 82%

Farming in childhood, diet in adulthood and asthma history

Varraso¹,

Oryszczyn²,

Mathieu³

et al. 2011

European Respiratory Journal

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The decrease in the number of children living on traditional farms in France during early childhood and changes in diet could both play a role in the increase in asthma prevalence over the last decades. This study aimed to assess 1) the association of farming lifestyle in childhood and asthma, and 2) whether diet in adulthood modifies the association between farming lifestyle in childhood and adult-onset asthma.In the French Etude Epidemiologique des Femmes de la Mutuelle Générale de l'Education Nationale (E3N) study (54,018 females; age 43-68 yrs), three indicators of farming lifestyle were defined: one using individual data (having farmer parents) and two using ecological data (born in a rural area and exposure to cattle).All farming lifestyle indicators were related to childhood-(,16 yrs) and adult-onset asthma (OR (95% CI) values for farmer parents were 0.54 (0.42-0.70) and 0.72 (0.62-0.84), respectively), and to diet in adulthood, in particular to high fruit and low wine intakes. The association between farmer parents and adult-onset asthma was not modified by diet in adulthood.Results extend previous observations in younger cohorts on the protective role of contact with livestock and farming lifestyle on asthma, in particular during childhood.

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Section: Feasibility and Validation Of Ecological Indicators Of Contasupporting

confidence: 82%

Farming in childhood, diet in adulthood and asthma history

Varraso¹,

Oryszczyn²,

Mathieu³

et al. 2011

European Respiratory Journal

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“…Sinus problems including rhinitis and sinusitis are among the most common medical conditions, which can significantly decrease quality of life, aggravate comorbid conditions such as asthma, and require significant direct medical expenditures [1][2][3][4][5]. They also create even greater indirect costs to society by causing lost work and schooldays and reduced workplace productivity and school learning [2,3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Exposure to pesticides has also been associated with many respiratory symptoms including sinus problems [3,9]. On the other hand, several studies have identified some of the exposures associated with a farming lifestyle that contributed to the reduced risk of rhinitis, asthma, and allergic diseases in farm children (i.e., contact with livestock; contact with animal feed such as hay, grain, straw, and silage; and the consumption of unprocessed cow's milk) [1,4,5,[10][11][12][13][14][15]. The reduced risk in farm children has been attributed to higher endotoxin levels and more diverse exposures to microbial components in the farm environment [1,4,[10][11][12]15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…On the other hand, several studies have identified some of the exposures associated with a farming lifestyle that contributed to the reduced risk of rhinitis, asthma, and allergic diseases in farm children (i.e., contact with livestock; contact with animal feed such as hay, grain, straw, and silage; and the consumption of unprocessed cow's milk) [1,4,5,[10][11][12][13][14][15]. The reduced risk in farm children has been attributed to higher endotoxin levels and more diverse exposures to microbial components in the farm environment [1,4,[10][11][12]15]. This so-called "hygiene hypothesis" has a theoretical basis that the type and level of stimulation from the microbial environment may influence the postnatal differentiation of T-helper lymphocytes [1,4,5,10,11,13,14], and it supports the lifelong protective effect of farm exposures in early childhood against the development of allergies [11,15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The reduced risk in farm children has been attributed to higher endotoxin levels and more diverse exposures to microbial components in the farm environment [1,4,[10][11][12]15]. This so-called "hygiene hypothesis" has a theoretical basis that the type and level of stimulation from the microbial environment may influence the postnatal differentiation of T-helper lymphocytes [1,4,5,10,11,13,14], and it supports the lifelong protective effect of farm exposures in early childhood against the development of allergies [11,15]. Some studies, however, failed to identify this protective effect [16] and the others reported that some farming and poor hygiene exposures were associated with an increase in the prevalence of rhinitis in schoolchildren [16,17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Prevalence and Determinants of Sinus Problems in Farm and Non-Farm Populations of Rural Saskatchewan, Canada

et al. 2018

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Although sinus problems have long been recognized as the most common respiratory symptoms associated with agricultural work, there is a scarcity of recent studies and/or reliable estimates as to the true prevalence or risk factors of sinus problems related to farming. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of sinus problems in farming and non-farming rural populations and further investigate the association of individual (for example life-style, occupational), contextual (e.g., environmental), and important covariates (e.g., age, sex) with sinus problems. A large-scale cross-sectional study was conducted in farm and non-farm residents of rural Saskatchewan, Canada. A logistic regression model based on a generalized estimating equations approach were fitted to investigate the risk factors of sinus problems. Sinus problems were reported by 2755 (34.0%) of the 8101 subjects. Farm residents were more likely to spend their first year of life on farm compared with non-farm residents, and indicated a significantly lower risk of sinus problems. Meanwhile, occupational exposure to solvent and mold were associated with an increased risk of sinus problems. Some health conditions such as allergy and stomach acidity/reflux, family history, and female sex were also related to a higher risk of sinus problems. Farm residents had a significantly lower risk of sinus problems than non-farm residents, likely due to the exposure to farm specific environments in their early life.

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Rural residence, farming environment, and allergic diseases in Argentinean adolescents

Han

Badellino²,

Forno

et al. 2016

Pediatr Pulmonol.

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Rationale Little is known about residence in a rural or farming environment and allergic diseases in Latin America. Methods Cross-sectional study of rural residence and current wheeze, current asthma and current symptoms of allergic rhino-conjunctivitis in 1,804 adolescents (ages 13–14 years) attending 31 schools in urban and rural areas of San Francisco (Córdoba, Argentina). Rural residence was classified as never, previous, and current. Duration of rural residence was categorized as 0, >0 but ≤ 5 years, and >5 years. Current wheeze, current asthma and current allergic rhino-conjunctivitis were defined on the basis of responses to an extensively validated questionnaire from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood. Logistic regression was used for the multivariable analysis of rural residence and the outcomes of interest. Results After adjustment for current smoking and other covariates, current rural residence (odds ratio [OR]=0.15, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.03 to 0.81) and rural residence for >5 years (OR=0.32, 95% CI=0.12 to 0.84) were significantly associated with reduced odds of current wheeze. In a multivariable analysis, current residence in a rural area (OR= 0.52, 95% CI= 0.32 to 0.86) and rural residence for >5 years (OR=0.44, 95% CI= 0.26 to 0.73) were significantly associated with reduced odds of allergic rhino-conjunctivitis. This association was no longer significant after additional adjustment for current residence in a dairy farm, which was significantly associated with reduced odds of allergic rhino-conjunctivitis. Similarly, current regular contact with farm animals was significantly associated with reduced odds of allergic rhino-conjunctivitis. Conclusions Among Argentinean adolescents, current rural residence and rural residence for >5 years were associated with reduced odds of current wheeze and allergic-rhino-conjunctivitis. These potential protective effects may be explained by a dairy farm environment, including regular contact with farm animals.

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Growing up on a farm leads to lifelong protection against allergic rhinitis

Cited by 61 publications

References 30 publications

Farming in childhood, diet in adulthood and asthma history

Farming in childhood, diet in adulthood and asthma history

Prevalence and Determinants of Sinus Problems in Farm and Non-Farm Populations of Rural Saskatchewan, Canada

Rural residence, farming environment, and allergic diseases in Argentinean adolescents

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