[Clinical effectiveness of probiotics in complex treatment of infants with cow's milk allergy]

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
• Microbiome Research
• Gastroenterology

Context:

• Infant food hypersensitivity and allergies, particularly to cow's milk protein, affect 6-8% of infants.
• Atopic dermatitis is a common manifestation of food allergies in infants.
• Intestinal microbiota development occurs during infancy, a period critical for immune system maturation.

Purpose:

• To evaluate the efficacy of specific probiotic strains, Bifidobacterium lactis BB-12 and Streptococcus thermophilus TH-4, in managing atopic dermatitis in infants.
• To assess the impact of probiotic supplementation on clinical symptoms of cow's milk allergy-related atopic dermatitis.

Summary:

• A randomized clinical study involved 60 infants (3-12 months) with atopic dermatitis and cow's milk allergy.
• One group received a probiotic (Bifidobacterium lactis BB-12 and Streptococcus thermophilus TH-4) for 4 weeks alongside standard care.
• SCORAD scores, a measure of atopic dermatitis severity, showed significant improvement in the probiotic group compared to the control group after 8 weeks.

Impact:

• Probiotic administration, in conjunction with elimination diets and standard treatment, demonstrates a beneficial effect on clinical symptoms of atopic dermatitis in infants.
• This suggests a potential therapeutic role for targeted probiotic supplementation in managing allergic conditions in early childhood.
• Findings support the integration of probiotics into the management strategies for infants suffering from atopic dermatitis and cow's milk allergy.