If you’re a dog lover, you already know how much joy a canine companion can bring.
But did you know that having a dog during childhood might also improve gut health?
New research from Sinai Health and the University of Toronto reveals that children who grow up with dogs may have healthier gut bacteria and a lower risk of developing Crohn’s disease, a serious digestive condition.
The study, published in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, found that living with a dog between the ages of 5 and 15 is linked to a healthier gut microbiome.
The gut microbiome consists of trillions of bacteria and other microorganisms living in our digestive system, playing a crucial role in our overall health.
A healthy gut microbiome can protect against diseases like Crohn’s, which causes inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract.
Researchers Kenneth Croitoru and Williams Turpin from Mount Sinai Hospital’s Center for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) led the study.
They wanted to explore how different environmental factors, like living with a dog, might influence the risk of developing Crohn’s. Their findings suggest that growing up with a dog could lead to positive changes in gut bacteria and even reduce gut inflammation, which are both important for preventing Crohn’s disease.
Dr. Croitoru, a professor of medicine and immunology at the University of Toronto, emphasized that while the study found a connection between living with a dog and lower risk of Crohn’s, it doesn’t explain exactly why this happens.
“We have established associations between environmental factors and Crohn’s and are now trying to understand how these environmental factors affect the triggering of the disease,” he said.
Interestingly, the study also found that living in a large family during the first year of life could lower the chances of getting Crohn’s. However, having a bird as a pet was linked to a higher risk of developing the disease.
Crohn’s disease is a serious condition that affects many people worldwide, especially in countries like Canada. While genetics play a big role in who gets the disease, the environment is also a key factor. Dr. Croitoru’s team is part of the GEM Project, the largest study of its kind, which has been investigating the causes of Crohn’s since 2008.
The GEM Project has collected health and lifestyle data from over 5,000 people worldwide who have relatives with Crohn’s. By studying these individuals, researchers hope to identify who is most at risk of developing the disease and find ways to prevent it. This groundbreaking research is paving the way for personalized strategies that could one day help prevent Crohn’s disease before it starts.
In the future, we might see new prevention strategies, like dietary supplements, that promote a healthy gut microbiome. Thanks to studies like this, we’re getting closer to understanding how our environment influences our health—and how something as simple as having a dog might protect us from disease.
If you care about health, please read studies that vitamin D can help reduce inflammation, and vitamin K could lower your heart disease risk by a third.
For more health information, please see recent studies about new way to halt excessive inflammation, and results showing foods that could cause inflammation.
