Probiotic supplements may help improve atopic dermatitis symptoms

Atopic dermatitis symptoms were improved in patients who received selected probiotic strains, according to a study.

“AD-related symptoms are itching, redness, dry and scaly skin and recurrent eczematous lesions. AD incidence has increased worldwide over the past several decades and affects 60% of the population, especially children,” Angela Michelotti, MD, and colleagues wrote. “The gut microbiome can strongly influence the host immune system, providing protection against pathogens and triggering an immune protective response.”

The single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study included 80 patients with mild to moderate AD who were assigned 1:1 to an active group or a placebo group.

The active group received a food supplement containing a probiotic mix of 1×10⁹ CFU L. plantarum PBS067, 1×10⁹ CFU L. reuteri PBS072 and 1×10⁹ CFU L. rhamnosus LRH020, 26 mg corn starch and 1 mg vegetable magnesium stearate, while the placebo group received a daily capsule of 99 mg corn starch and 1mg vegetable magnesium stearate.

SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index improved in both groups; however, the supplement group had a significant and progressive decrease in SCORAD index, which continued for 1 month after discontinuation.

Skin smoothness and skin moisturization indexes were also significantly improved in the treatment group.

In addition, skin tightness had a 90% positive response in the treatment group.

“Probiotic intake in AD is an interesting intervention since it is directed not to the symptoms, but rather to the cause of the disease (intestinal dysbiosis),” the authors wrote. “Thus, overall more effective and long-lasting improvement can be achieved, as indicated by this clinical trial.”