Growing Up in Farms Helps Stall Risk of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Study

Children who grow up in the countryside have higher protection against inflammatory bowel disease, according to study.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a condition that affects the digestive tract, colon, mouth, stomach and anus. Researchers at the Aarhus University discovered that living environment and surroundings in our early life influence the probability for IBD. They found high incidence of IBD in children living close to urban settlements than those residing near farm-lands and the countryside.

The study involved over 10,864 people living in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Estonia who were born between 1945 and 1971. Individuals born after 1952 who spent about five years in farms and had contact with livestock were less likely to get any of the IBDs, reports the Independent.

"There is a correlation between the rise in inflammatory bowel diseases and increasing urbanization, given that more and more children are growing up in urban settings," said Signe Timm, co-author and researcher from the Aarhus University, in a news release.

The experts postulate exposure to microorganisms and allergens found in the environment in childhood plays a crucial role in developing the immune system. The body becomes more resistant to gastrointestinal infections and inflammatory diseases in the same way as it develops immunity against asthma and allergies.

The study reports suggest the incidence of both crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis  surged especially among the younger population in recent times.

"We know that the difference in the microbial environment between city and country has increased over the past century, and that we are exposed to far fewer different bacteria in urban environments today than we were previously. This may in part explain our findings," says Timm.

The authors will be conducting further examination to see if the resistance against digestive infections and diseases developed in those who are exposed to farm livestock can be genetically passed on to their offspring.

More information is available online in the European Journal of Epidemiology.