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Oral probiotic combination shows effectiveness in pediatric, adolescent atopic dermatitis

A combination of oral probiotic formulations for atopic dermatitis in young patients was associated with improved SCORAD index scores and reduced use of topical corticosteroids, according to recent study data.

The 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study included 50 patients accrued at a single outpatient center in Spain. Eligible participants were aged 4 to 17 years and were accrued between March and June of 2016. Clinicians stratified patient groups by sex, age and age at onset of atopic dermatitis.

The probiotic regimen was comprised of a freeze-dried powder with 109 colony-forming units of Bifidobacterium lactis CECT 8145, B. longum CECT 7347, and Lactobacillus casei CECT 9104 and maltodextrin.

Results at 12 weeks showed that the change in SCORAD score was 83% (95% CI, 95 to 70) in the probiotic arm and 24% (95% CI, 36 to 11) among those taking placebo (P < .001). The researchers noted that probiotics yielded a 19.2-point greater improvement in SCORAD index score than placebo (mean difference, 19.2; 95%CI, 15 to 23.4)

Similarly, topical steroid use for treatment of flares was significantly lower in the active treatment arm compared with placebo, with 161 of 2,084 patient-days (7.7%) reported among patients taking probiotics and 220 of 2,032 patient-days (10.8%) among controls (OR = 0.63; 95%CI, 0.51-0.78).

However, probiotics and controls failed to demonstrate any differences in terms of blood levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-13, eosinophils, IgE and lactate dehydrogenase, according to the researchers. Similarly, adverse event rates were not reported in either arm of the study.

“The mixture of probiotics was effective in reducing SCORAD index and reducing the use of topical steroids in patients with moderate [atopic dermatitis],” the researchers concluded. – by Rob Volansky

Disclosure: Three researchers report being employed by Biopolis. Please see the study for the full list of author disclosures.