Korean researchers say that lactic acid bacteria contained in the Korean vegetable dish “kimchi” can be used to treat atopy.

The researchers’ recently conducted clinical test on 100 atopic patients ages two to ten shows that children who consumed the lactic acid bacteria from kimchi that had been aged for a week at ten degrees Celsius showed improvements in their conditions.

The bacteria has no risk of side effects that are often triggered by other treatments for atopy, such as steroids and antihistamines.

The research team plans to use the bacteria as an ingredient for new drugs and food.