Is the effect of probiotics on atopic dermatitis confined to food sensitized children?

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND:
Probiotics have previously been shown to reduce the severity of atopic dermatitis (AD) in infants and children.

OBJECTIVE:
To examine the effect of two probiotics (Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacteria lactis) on established AD in children.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS:
Atopic children with current dermatitis received 2 x 10(10) colony forming units/g of probiotic (n=29) or placebo (n=30). Both were given daily as a powder mixed with food or water. SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD; developed by the European Task Force on Atopic Dermatitis) a measure of the extent and severity of AD, was assessed at baseline, 2 and 12 weeks after starting treatment and 4 weeks after treatment was discontinued.

RESULTS:
SCORAD geometric mean score at baseline was 26.0 (21.9-30.8) in the probiotic group and 35.1 (28.9-42.8) in the placebo group (P=0.02). After adjustment for these between-group baseline differences there was no significant improvement in AD at 12 weeks, SCORAD geometric mean ratio:
0.80 (95% confidence level (CI) 0.62-1.04, P=0.10). Among the food sensitized children, there was an improvement in those treated with probiotics, SCORAD geometric mean ratio:
0.73 (95% CI 0.54-1.00, P=0.047).

CONCLUSION:
In this study a combination of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacteria lactis improved AD only in food sensitized children.

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Author information

Author/s: Sistek, D (D); Kelly, R (R); Wickens, K (K); Stanley, T (T); Fitzharris, P (P); Crane, J (J);

Affiliation: Wellington Asthma Research Group, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wellington, New Zealand.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Clinical and experimental allergy : journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (Clin Exp Allergy), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-May; vol 36 (issue 5) : pp 629-33

Dates: Created 2006/05/02; Completed 2006/10/27; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 16650048, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Bifidobacterium
Child
Child, Preschool
Dermatitis, Atopic - complications; diet therapy; drug therapy
Female
Food Hypersensitivity - complications
Humans

Humans
Infant
Lactobacillus rhamnosus
Male
Probiotics - administration & dosage
Severity of Illness Index
Treatment Outcome

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