MONTREAL—A randomized placebo-controlled trial showed the benefits and synergistic effect of Lacidofil®, a probiotics preparation from Institut Rosell-Lallemand, and emollient treatment on young children with atopic dermatitis (AD) and cow milk allergy. AD has become a widespread health concern affecting as many as 20 percent of pre-school children and about one in 20 adults. This clinical study, conducted at the National Medical University, Kiev, Ukraine, showed a significant effect of the probiotic treatment on AD severity and the use of corticosteroids. Immunological studies showed an immunomodulating effect of the probiotic, indicating a shift toward immune tolerance in allergic patients. A total of 58 children under the age of 4 with AD and cow milk allergy were treated with emollient cream and bath preparation. In addition, 30 children received one capsule/d of the Lacidofil preparation (a combination of Lactobacillus Rosell-11 and Lactobacillus Rosell-52) for one month; the other 28 children received a placebo. The extent and severity of AD was evaluated using the SCORAD Index (SCORing Atopic Dermatitis). Immunological parameters were also assessed at day 0 and 30.
When compared to the placebo group, the probiotic treatment showed a 63.3 percent reduction (versus 32.1 percent in the placebo group) on AD severity, as well as a steroid-sparing effect—10 percent of the children in the treatment group used steroid cream versus 32 percent in the placebo group. The treatment group also showed an increase of a subtype of antibodies directed against cow milk allergen (IgG4), considered as a marker for immune-tolerance; and a decrease of activated T cells possibly associated with AD.