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Probiotic bacteria in the management of atopic disease: underscoring the importance of viability

Pirkka V Kirjavainen1, Seppo J Salminen, Erika Isolauri

  • 1Department of Biochemistry and Food Chemistry, University of Turku, FIN-20014 Turku, Finland. pirkka.kirjavainen@utu.fi

Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
|January 28, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Supplementing infant formula with viable Lactobacillus GG (LGG) may help manage atopic eczema and cow

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Microbiome Research

Background:

  • Atopic disease, including atopic eczema and cow's milk allergy, affects a significant number of infants.
  • Gut microbiota composition is increasingly recognized as a factor in immune system development and allergic conditions.
  • Probiotic supplementation is being explored as a potential therapeutic strategy for managing infant allergies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effectiveness of oral probiotics, specifically viable and heat-inactivated Lactobacillus GG (LGG), in managing atopic disease in infants.
  • To investigate the impact of these probiotic interventions on the gut microbiota composition of infants with atopic eczema and cow's milk allergy.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized, double-blind study involving 35 infants diagnosed with atopic eczema and cow's milk allergy.
  • Infants received either extensively hydrolyzed whey formula (placebo), formula with viable LGG, or formula with heat-inactivated LGG.
  • Symptom severity was assessed using the SCORAD index, and fecal bacterial genera were analyzed using 16S rRNA-specific probes.

Main Results:

  • The heat-inactivated LGG group experienced adverse gastrointestinal effects, leading to early study termination for this arm.
  • All groups showed significant alleviation of atopic eczema symptoms, with SCORAD scores decreasing.
  • The viable LGG group demonstrated a trend towards greater symptom improvement compared to the placebo group.
  • No significant alterations in the enumerated bacterial genera were observed across the treatment groups.

Conclusions:

  • Oral supplementation with viable Lactobacillus GG (LGG) shows promise as a management strategy for atopic eczema and cow's milk allergy in infants.
  • Heat-inactivated LGG was associated with adverse effects and is not recommended for this population.
  • Further research into the specific mechanisms and optimal strains of probiotics for infant allergy management is warranted.
Abstract

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