Amish Children Exhibit remarkably Low Allergy Rates, Study Reveals
Lancaster county, PA - A groundbreaking study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2016 has revealed a striking disparity in allergy and asthma rates between Amish children and their Hutterite counterparts, suggesting a link between customary agricultural lifestyles and enhanced immune systems. Researchers found that only 7% of Amish children tested positive for allergic reactions, compared to nearly 50% of Hutterite children. Asthma prevalence was also considerably lower among the Amish, affecting 5% of children versus 20% in the Hutterite community.
The Amish, a Christian community founded by Alsatian pastor Jacob Amman in 1693, migrated to America in the 18th and 19th centuries seeking refuge from military obligations and religious persecution. Today, approximately 373,000 Amish reside primarily in Pennsylvania, Ohio, indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin, maintaining a conservative lifestyle that rejects modern conveniences like electricity and automobiles.
The study, led by geneticist Carole Ober and molecular medicine researcher Donata Vercelli, compared 30 Amish children aged 7-14 with 30 Hutterite children from South Dakota. While both groups live in agricultural settings, Hutterites utilize modern farming practices. Researchers conducted allergy and asthma tests, blood analyses, and collected dust samples from homes.
Analysis revealed that dust from Amish homes contained almost seven times more endotoxins – substances released from bacteria found in animals and straw. Exposure to these endotoxins appears to stimulate the immune system,promoting the advancement of neutrophils,protective cells that bolster resistance to allergens. Experiments on mice confirmed this protective effect, but only in those possessing key molecules for innate immunity (MyD88 and Trif).
Researchers hypothesize that the “old-fashioned” agricultural environment of the Amish, with its increased contact with animals and natural materials, fosters a more robust immune response. The findings suggest that overly sterile modern environments may contribute to weakened immune systems and increased susceptibility to allergies and asthma, potentially paving the way for new preventative treatments.
