The COVID-19 pandemic has touched every aspect of our lives, including the health of our little ones. If your baby was born during this time, you might be interested to know about recent research that has uncovered a surprising impact on their gut microbiome. This research has revealed a significant 46% increase in eczema and other atopic allergies in babies born during the pandemic, compared to babies born before the pandemic [1]. This is thought to be due to a reduction in beneficial bacteria, particularly Bifidobacteria (B. breve), in their gut.
What is Bifidobacteria?
Bifidobacteria is a type of probiotic strain that plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy gut microbiome, especially in infants. It helps to modulate the immune system and reduce inflammation associated with eczema.
The Importance of Bifidobacteria
Bifidobacteria is one of the first bacteria to colonize the infant gut and is considered a cornerstone for developing a healthy immune system. It helps to break down complex carbohydrates, produce vitamins, and protect against harmful pathogens.
What Is Bifidobacterium breve?
Bifidobacterium breve is a probiotic strain that can help manage eczema symptoms, especially in infants, by modulating the immune system and potentially reducing inflammation associated with the condition.
Antibiotic-resistant Bacteria
What’s more, pandemic-born infants carried a higher number of Klebsiella pneumoniae, a common type of bacteria found in the intestines with strong antibiotic-resistant genes, making treatment of potential diseases very difficult.
In conclusion, pandemic-born babies have a less diverse microbiome and less beneficial bacteria like Bifidobacterium, which is crucial for strong immune system development. As a result, these babies may be more vulnerable to infections and inflammatory conditions, including eczema and allergies.
Why Do Pandemic Babies Have An Imbalanced Gut?
There are three reasons why babies born during the pandemic are now more prone to eczema and other skin allergies:
1. Increased Hygiene and Disinfection.
Due to the fear of being infected by Covid-19 viruses, parents had been overly-diligent in cleaning and disinfecting not only their baby but also the environment around them. This led to reduced exposure to microbes which a baby would normally encounter pre-pandemic, which in turn limited gut microbiome diversity and reduced gut health, drastically.
2. Reduced Social Interactions.
Isolation during the pandemic period and being mostly house-bound had resulted in less exposure to family and friends, day-care, and outdoor environments like playing in the park. This limited and stunted healthy microbial exchange, which would have benefited the baby’s gut significantly.
3. Increased Antibiotic Use.
Increased antibiotic use by the mother during pregnancy or by the baby in early infancy also led to an increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and lowered the immunity of the baby.
These three key factors have resulted in pandemic-born babies having a weaker immunity, with a longer time needed to build a strong immune system. They also have a higher risk for eczema, asthma, food allergies, and gut dysbiosis (imbalance).
The Gut-Skin Connection: How One Affects the Other
Our gut and skin are intricately connected, meaning that gut imbalances can directly manifest as skin problems like eczema [2]. Up to 20% of children worldwide are affected by eczema. 30% to 40% of children with eczema may develop additional allergic diseases such as asthma and allergic rhinitis in later years, which usually persist even into adulthood. There is no cure for eczema. Current treatments for eczema, such as steroid creams and antihistamines, often provide only temporary relief.
How SIM03 Can Help
Since the root cause of the high rate of eczema in pandemic-born babies is their lack of gut microbiota diversity, the solution lies in a microbiota-targeted intervention. This is where G-NiiB SIM03 comes into play, a revolutionary game-changer in the treatment of eczema in babies.
G-NiiB SIM03 is an award-winning, medicinal probiotic treatment developed by The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) using Advanced Metagenomics Technology. It offers a precise and targeted solution to restore the balance of a baby’s gut microbiome. SIM03 is a microencapsulated probiotic that delivers live beneficial bacteria directly to the gut, for optimum colonization and effectiveness.
SIM03 contains Bifidobacteria breve and Bifidobacteria bifidum, which are essential for improving gut microbial diversity, reducing inflammation, and boosting resistance to antimicrobial peptides.
Proof That SIM03 Works!
Clinical studies showed that SIM03 improved eczema symptoms in children after a 12-week course, soothing irritated skin and relieving persistent itching and inflammation. SIM03 also increased the presence of 23 species of beneficial bacteria in the gut, a truly remarkable achievement. In addition, SIM03 improved babies’ sleep quality and boosted their overall well-being and happiness.
In clinical trials, 100% of children with moderate eczema experienced significant improvement after using SIM03 [3]. Parents overwhelmingly reported positive experiences with SIM03, praising its ease of use and effectiveness. Almost all parents (98%) continued the treatment plan, a testament to SIM03’s impact and efficacy.
Is G-NiiB SIM03 Right for Your Baby?
G-NiiB SIM03 would be suitable for your baby if they:
- Were born during the pandemic (2020 onwards).
- Have a history of allergies or eczema.
- Have a less diverse gut microbiome.
Don’t take any chances! Ensure the well-being of your baby. SIM03 is a science-backed solution that lessens the negative impact of the pandemic on infants’ gut health and ensures a healthier, happier future for the next generation.
NO MORE Allergies and Eczema: Take Action Today!
Enjoy peace of mind knowing you’re providing the very best eczema and allergy treatment for your beloved baby, by strengthening their microbiome and immunity with SIM03. Find out more at your nearest pharmacy and order your boxes of SIM03 today!
References:
[1] https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19490976.2024.2443117 Impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on early life gut microbiome.
[2] https://thegoodbug.com/blogs/news/does-gut-health-affect-the-skin
[3] Chan OM. A novel infant microbiome formula (SIM03) improved eczema severity and quality of life in preschool children. Sci Rep. 2024 Feb 7;14(1):3168.doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-53848-w.PMID:38326388; PMCID:PMC10850179.