Original Paper

Effects of Oral Administration of Lactobacillus acidophilus L-92 on the Symptoms and Serum Markers of Atopic Dermatitis in Children
Shinpei Torii^a, Akiko Torii^b, Komei Itoh^c, Atsuo Urisu^d, Akihiko Terada^e, Takao Fujisawa^g, Kazue Yamada^f, Hiromi Suzuki^h, Yu Ishida^h, Futoshi Nakamura^h, Hiroki Kanzato^h, Daisuke Sawada^h, Atsuko Nonaka^h, Misaki Hatanaka^h, Shigeru Fujiwara<sup>h

a</sup>Department of Pediatrics, Kami-iida Dai-ichi General Hospital,
^bFaculty of Home Economics, Aichi Gakusen University,
^cDepartment of Allergy, Aichi Children’s Health and Medical Center,
^dDepartment of Pediatrics, Banbuntane Hotokukai Hospital, Fujita Health University,
^eDepartment of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy, Daido Hospital, and
^fYamada Clinic, Aichi,
^gInstitute of Clinical Research, Mie National Hospital, Mie, and
^hResearch and Development Center, Calpis Co. Ltd., Kanagawa, Japan

Address of Corresponding Author

Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2011;154:236-245 (DOI: 10.1159/000321110)

  Key Words

• Atopic dermatitis
• Children
• Probiotics
• Biogenics
• Lactobacillus acidophilus L-92

  Abstract

Background: Few studies have investigated the complementary effects of long-term oral administration of Lactobacillus acidophilus on traditional medical therapy in the treatment of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). Methods: The Atopic Dermatitis Area and Severity Index was used to evaluate AD severity. Symptom severity was assessed using the symptom score. The effect of medical therapy was evaluated by adding the medication score, calculated as the sum of each product of the amount of steroid ointment used for therapy and its designated strength graded on a 4-point scale, to the symptom score. The complementary effect of long-term oral administration of L. acidophilus strain L-92 (L-92) as a probiotic or biogenic strain in patients with AD was evaluated using the symptom-medication score, which was calculated as the sum of the symptom score and medication score. Both a preliminary casuistic study and a double-blinded, placebo-controlled study were performed to evaluate the effects of L-92 on the symptoms of AD in children. Results: Orally administered L-92 significantly ameliorated the symptoms of AD in Japanese children. L-92 also affected the serum concentrations of thymus and activation-regulated chemokine in a time-dependent manner.Conclusions: The results of the preliminary trial and the double-blinded, placebo-controlled study revealed a complementary effect of oral L-92 on the standard medical therapy (topical application of a steroid ointment) in patients with AD that was mediated, at least in part, by alterations in the Th1/Th2 balance.

Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Correspondence to: Dr. Shigeru Fujiwara
Research and Development Center, Calpis Co. Ltd.
11-10, 5 Chome, Fuchinobe
Sagamihara-shi, Kanagawa 252-0206 (Japan)
Tel. +81 492 42 7828, Fax +81 492 42 7810, E-Mail shigeru.fujiwara@calpis.co.jp

  Article Information

Received: September 22, 2009
Accepted after revision: May 4, 2010
Published online: September 21, 2010
Number of Print Pages : 10
Number of Figures : 5, Number of Tables : 4, Number of References : 39