Psoriasis support - Probiotic Supplements May Improve Atopic Dermatitis

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Probiotic Supplements May Improve Atopic Dermatitis

Cruiser

2005-09-30, 1:06 pm

They do not say how the probiotic was administered, other than to say that
it was a supplement. I presume this means it was taken by mouth, which would
mean that the probiotics would have survived the passage to the intestines,
having passed through stomach acid, unless dead bacteria contained something
remedial.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/513192?src=mp

By Michelle Rizzo

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Sept 21 - Among young children with moderate or
severe atopic dermatitis, supplementation with the probiotic Lactobacillus
fermentum improves the extent and severity of the disease, according to
results of a study published in the September issue of the Archives of
Disease in Childhood.

Dr. Susan L. Prescott, of the university of Western Australia, Perth, and
colleagues examined the effects of probiotics on moderate and severe
dermatitis in young children between the ages of 6 and 18 months who were
randomized to receive a commercial probiotic product (L fermentum VRI-033
PCC; Probiomics) or placebo twice daily for 8 weeks.

A total of 53 children completed the randomized, double-blind,
placebo-controlled study. Of these, 49 (88%) were using topical
corticosteroids, and 54% had been exposed to antibiotics in the past.
Twenty-eight patients (50%) were regularly consuming yogurt at baseline.

A final assessment was performed at 16 weeks. The main outcome measure was
the change in the severity of atopic dermatitis as assessed by the Severity
Scoring of Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index. Secondary measures included the
change in family quality of life, change in topical corticosteroid use, and
parental impression of the intervention.

The reduction in the SCORAD index over time was significant in patients
receiving probiotics, but not in those receiving placebo (p = 0.03).
Overall, 24 (92%) children in the probiotics group had a SCORAD index that
was better than baseline at week 16, compared to 17 (63%) children in the
placebo group (p = 0.01).

At the completion of the study, 14 (54%) probiotics-treated children and 8
(30%) placebo-treated children had mild atopic dermatitis.

Parents of children in both groups reported an improvement in the quality of
life score over time. Sixty-two percent of parents of children in the
probiotics group and 73% of parents of children in the placebo group said
they would continue the supplement their child was on. Neither group
experienced significant changes in topical steroid use over time.

"This may be a useful (and very safe) therapy to add to the normal treatment
regime," Dr. Prescott commented to Reuters Health. "It is important that
parents continue to use the other prescribed therapies and advice."

"We are currently investigating the effect on underlying immune function
further," the investigator noted. "We also hope to look at the role of these
and similar bacteria in disease prevention."

Arch Dis Child 2005;90:892-897.

Fizziwig2

2005-09-30, 1:06 pm

This is what I have been using for the past twenty years or so and calmed
down my psoriasis for several years.

It's taken them a long time to catch up.

Skeats

"Cruiser" <nospam.tg.cruisers@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:TJz_e.6316$cq2.666501@news20.bellglobal.com...
> They do not say how the probiotic was administered, other than to say that
> it was a supplement. I presume this means it was taken by mouth, which
> would
> mean that the probiotics would have survived the passage to the
> intestines,
> having passed through stomach acid, unless dead bacteria contained
> something
> remedial.
>
> http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/513192?src=mp
>
> By Michelle Rizzo
>
> NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Sept 21 - Among young children with moderate or
> severe atopic dermatitis, supplementation with the probiotic Lactobacillus
> fermentum improves the extent and severity of the disease, according to
> results of a study published in the September issue of the Archives of
> Disease in Childhood.
>
> Dr. Susan L. Prescott, of the university of Western Australia, Perth, and
> colleagues examined the effects of probiotics on moderate and severe
> dermatitis in young children between the ages of 6 and 18 months who were
> randomized to receive a commercial probiotic product (L fermentum VRI-033
> PCC; Probiomics) or placebo twice daily for 8 weeks.
>
> A total of 53 children completed the randomized, double-blind,
> placebo-controlled study. Of these, 49 (88%) were using topical
> corticosteroids, and 54% had been exposed to antibiotics in the past.
> Twenty-eight patients (50%) were regularly consuming yogurt at baseline.
>
> A final assessment was performed at 16 weeks. The main outcome measure was
> the change in the severity of atopic dermatitis as assessed by the
> Severity
> Scoring of Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index. Secondary measures included
> the
> change in family quality of life, change in topical corticosteroid use,
> and
> parental impression of the intervention.
>
> The reduction in the SCORAD index over time was significant in patients
> receiving probiotics, but not in those receiving placebo (p = 0.03).
> Overall, 24 (92%) children in the probiotics group had a SCORAD index that
> was better than baseline at week 16, compared to 17 (63%) children in the
> placebo group (p = 0.01).
>
> At the completion of the study, 14 (54%) probiotics-treated children and 8
> (30%) placebo-treated children had mild atopic dermatitis.
>
> Parents of children in both groups reported an improvement in the quality
> of
> life score over time. Sixty-two percent of parents of children in the
> probiotics group and 73% of parents of children in the placebo group said
> they would continue the supplement their child was on. Neither group
> experienced significant changes in topical steroid use over time.
>
> "This may be a useful (and very safe) therapy to add to the normal
> treatment
> regime," Dr. Prescott commented to Reuters Health. "It is important that
> parents continue to use the other prescribed therapies and advice."
>
> "We are currently investigating the effect on underlying immune function
> further," the investigator noted. "We also hope to look at the role of
> these
> and similar bacteria in disease prevention."
>
> Arch Dis Child 2005;90:892-897.
>
>
>