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Synbiotics prevent asthma‐like symptoms in infants with atopic dermatitis
Author(s) -
van der Aa L. B.,
van Aalderen W. M. C.,
Heymans H. S. A.,
Henk Sillevis Smitt J.,
Nauta A. J.,
Knippels L. M. J.,
Ben Amor K.,
Sprikkelman A. B.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.363
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1398-9995
pISSN - 0105-4538
DOI - 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2010.02416.x
Subject(s) - synbiotics , medicine , atopic dermatitis , asthma , placebo , allergy , randomized controlled trial , atopy , pediatrics , dermatology , immunology , probiotic , genetics , alternative medicine , pathology , bacteria , biology
To cite this article: van der Aa LB, van Aalderen WMC, Heymans HSA, Henk Sillevis Smitt J, Nauta AJ, Knippels LMJ, Ben Amor K, Sprikkelman AB, the Synbad Study Group. Synbiotics prevent asthma‐like symptoms in infants with atopic dermatitis. Allergy 2011; 66 : 170–177. Abstract Background: Infants with atopic dermatitis (AD) have a high risk of developing asthma. We investigated the effect of early intervention with synbiotics, a combination of probiotics and prebiotics, on the prevalence of asthma‐like symptoms in infants with AD. Methods: In a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled multicentre trial, ninety infants with AD, age <7 months, were randomized to receive an extensively hydrolyzed formula with Bifidobacterium breve M‐16V and a galacto/fructooligosaccharide mixture (Immunofortis ® ), or the same formula without synbiotics during 12 weeks. After 1 year, the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and asthma medication use was evaluated, using a validated questionnaire. Also, total serum IgE and specific IgE against aeroallergens were determined. Findings: Seventy‐five children (70.7% male, mean age 17.3 months) completed the 1‐year follow‐up evaluation. The prevalence of ‘frequent wheezing’ and ‘wheezing and/or noisy breathing apart from colds’ was significantly lower in the synbiotic than in the placebo group (13.9% vs 34.2%, absolute risk reduction (ARR) −20.3%, 95% CI −39.2% to −1.5%, and 2.8% vs 30.8%, ARR −28.0%, 95% CI −43.3% to −12.5%, respectively). Significantly less children in the synbiotic than in the placebo group had started to use asthma medication after baseline (5.6% vs 25.6%, ARR −20.1%, 95% CI −35.7% to −4.5%). Total IgE levels did not differ between the two groups. No children in the synbiotic and five children (15.2%) in the placebo group developed elevated IgE levels against cat (ARR −15.2%, 95% CI −27.4% to −2.9%). Conclusion: These results suggest that this synbiotic mixture prevents asthma‐like symptoms in infants with AD.