Background: Recent data suggested that dysbiosis of the gut microbiome is associated with childhood allergic diseases. Oral administration of probiotic formulations may improve the severity of atopic dermatitis (AD) by restoring imbalanced gut microbiota and reducing intestinal inflammation in children.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a probiotic mixture on the clinical severity of AD, gut inflammatory markers and alterations in microbiome dysbiosis in children with AD.
Methods: A total of 25 subjects were enrolled in this study and administered with a mixture of probiotic strains consisting of Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria for 4 weeks. The clinical efficacy of the probiotic mixture was assessed using SCORAD index and TEWL. Faecal calprotectin levels were measured as a marker for intestinal inflammation. The composition and diversity of the gut microbiome were analysed using 16S rRNA pyrosequencing.
Results: The SCORAD (38.9 ± 17.2 vs 29.0 ± 15.4, P < 0.001) and TEWL (58.3 ± 12.5 vs 27.3 ± 8.7 g/m2 /h, P = 0.028) were significantly decreased after 4 weeks administration of the probiotic mixture. The faecal calprotectin level (121.5 [27.7-292.9] vs 37.0 μg/g [12.6-108.9 μg/g], P = 0.038) was significantly decreased. The α-diversity and composition of the gut microbiome were not significantly changed, but β-diversity was increased after 4 weeks.
Conclusions: The oral administration of the probiotic mixture was effective in reducing clinical severity and intestinal inflammation in children with AD. Gut microbial diversity was slightly increased after administration of the probiotic mixture. The results of this study suggest that a probiotic mixture can alleviate AD by decreasing inflammation and modulating the gut microbiota in children with AD.
Keywords: Atopic dermatitis; calprotectin; children; gut microbiome; inflammation; probiotics.
© 2021 The Australasian College of Dermatologists.