Probiotics reduce eczema risk?

IQWiG: Probiotics protect against atopic dermatitis

08/10/2013

Relatively many children develop atopic dermatitis (atopic eczema) in the first years of life, which may accompany them throughout their lives. Here, so-called probiotics or probiotic supplements for pregnant women and infants could develop a preventive effect and prevent the onset of atopic dermatitis, the current press release of the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).

Up to two out of ten children, according to the IQWiG, at least temporarily suffer from an itchy rash in the form of atopic dermatitis. Complaints that may be prevented by the use of pre- and probiotics. Although the risk of atopic dermatitis is predominantly genetically determined, it can be avoided by pre- and probiotic supplements, the outbreak of the disease under certain circumstances, reports the IQWiG, citing the evaluation of current study results. „One option is to take pre- or probiotic supplements during the last weeks of pregnancy and / or during breastfeeding“, so the message of the institute.

Probiotics with a positive effect on the intestinal flora
The probiotics contain live germs, such as lactic acid bacteria, which are said to have a positive effect on the intestinal flora, which in turn should protect against the later development of allergic diseases. According to IQWiG, prebiotics are substances which are „stimulate the development of probiotics in the digestive system.“ The pre- and probiotic agents are available as tablets, liquids or in the form of milk products such as yoghurt. In particular, in children who are not breastfed, baby milk may come with pre- or probiotic supplements in question. Because babies who are not breastfed, have significantly fewer lactobacilli in the intestine than babies who are fed with breast milk.

Studies on the preventive effect of prebiotics in atopic dermatitis
The IQWiG comes to the conclusion in the evaluation of the research results on pre- and probiotic remedies that there is some evidence for both the prebiotics and in particular for the probiotics that they can develop a preventive effect against atopic dermatitis. To the prebiotics would have „Scientists at the University of Sydney evaluated four high-quality studies comparing baby milk with prebiotic supplements with baby milk without supplements“, reports the IQWiG. In total, about 1,200 mothers were involved with their infants in the studies. The analysis showed that out of 100 infants fed on baby milk without additives, 12 developed atopic dermatitis, while out of 100 infants receiving prebiotic baby milk, only eight developed eczema. Thus, the prebiotic additives would have saved four out of 100 infants from atopic dermatitis, the researchers concluded.

Prebiotic additives have not been sufficiently researched so far
„The studies provide weak evidence that prebiotic-enriched baby milk can protect against atopic dermatitis“, so the evaluation of the IQWiG. For reliable statements, however, further research is urgently needed, because the largest study lasted only one year and some children develop the chronic rashes only after this time, reports the institute. Furthermore, most babies in the studies without predisposition for atopic dermatitis were born. „It is therefore unclear whether prebiotic baby food can prevent eczema in babies with a high risk of skin rashes“, according to the IQWiG communication. As prebiotics enriched with infant formula, for example, the so-called oligosaccharides (carbohydrates from sugar or starch) are known.

Probiotics show preventive effects in atopic dermatitis
In the case of probiotics, however, research is already one step ahead. Here is one „Scientists from the Universities of Milan and Paris evaluated studies investigating probiotic products for the prevention of atopic dermatitis.“ A total of 14 trials involving over 6,500 infants were considered according to IQWiG. Here is the data so pretty good. Mostly products with lactic acid bacteria were tested, whereby the „Mothers in some studies from the last weeks of pregnancy to weaning“ income and „in other studies, babies after childbirth for several months have baby food with probiotic supplements“ received. The participating babies had a familial risk of allergic disease in most studies and were followed up for a period of up to two years, further strengthening the validity of the studies. The analysis showed that 34 out of 100 infants who did not receive probiotic supplements had eczema, while only 26 out of 100 infants who received probiotic products or whose mothers took probiotic products developed atopic dermatitis. Accordingly, the probiotic additives would have prevented in eight out of 100 infants a disease of atopic dermatitis. „The results show that probiotic products can at least protect against eczema“, this is the conclusion of the IQWiG. (Fp)