Dr SV Gerasimov, from the Department of Pediatrics, Lviv National Medical University, Lviv, Ukraine, conducted a study on 90 1–3 year old children with moderate to severe stopic dermatitis/eczema to determine the clinical efficacy of a new probiotic preparation and to determine the impact on peripheral lymphocytes. 

A total of 90 preschool children were randomly divided into two groups to receive either the probiotic (a mixture of Lactobacillus acidophilus DDS-1 and Bifidobacterium lactis UABLA-12) or the placebo. Parents administered the doses twice per day to provide a total of 10 billion CFU/g of a combination of L. acidophilus DDS-1 and B. lactis UABLA-12 with fructooligosaccharides (FOS). 

A 33.7% decrease in SCORAD (scoring of atopic dermatitis) was notied in the probiotic group versus 19.4%in the placebo group; a 33% increase in IDQOL (infant dermatitis quality of life) versus 19% in the placebo group and a 34.4% increase in DFI (dermatitis family impact) in the probiotic group versus 23.8% in the placebo group. 

Patients with active AD had a reduced percentage of CD3 and CD8 peripheral lymphocytes and increased CD4 and CD25 counts. Hypothetically, the recovery from AD due to use of probiotics may be accompanied by normalization of CD3, CD4, CD8 and CD25 numbers.  The study showed a correlation between reduction in CD4 and CD25 percent/absolute number and SCORAD values at week eight in the probiotic group.

The researchers concluded, the use of this probiotic mixture was associated with a significant clinical improvement in children with AD, and corresponding lymphocyte subset changes in peripheral blood.  However, the efficacy of probiotic therapy in adults with AD will need more investigation.

Courtesy of Inside Cosmeceuticals

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