Study Overview
Conducted by a team from the Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the meta-analysis assessed five randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving a total of 286 participants. The research focused on evaluating the impact of probiotic supplements on psoriasis severity, measured through the Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) and the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI)
Key Findings
1. PASI Scores: The results showed a significant reduction in PASI scores among participants who received probiotic supplements compared to those who received a placebo. This indicates an improvement in the severity of psoriasis symptoms.
2. DLQI Scores: Similarly, DLQI scores, which reflect the impact of psoriasis on patients’ quality of life, were also significantly lower in the probiotic group. This suggests that probiotics not only help in reducing physical symptoms but also improve overall well-being.
Strains included
Three different probiotics were evaluated duration 3 to 6 months: 2 studies used Lactobacillus rhamnosus; 2 studies used a blend of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium lactis, and Bifidobacterium longum; 1 study used a blend of Lactobacillus strains, Bifidobacterium strains, and Streptococcus thermophilus combined with fructo-oligosaccharides (prebiotic).
Future Directions
While the findings are promising, the authors of the study caution that more large-scale, high-quality clinical trials are needed to further elucidate the mechanisms at play and to confirm the long-term efficacy and safety of probiotic supplementation in psoriasis treatment. They emphasise the importance of continued research to provide more robust and reliable evidence.
Conclusion
Probiotic supplementation shows potential as a complementary treatment for psoriasis, offering hope for improved management of this often debilitating condition. By enhancing our understanding of the gut-skin connection and the role of probiotics in immune modulation, effective therapies that improve both skin health and overall quality of life for psoriasis patients could be found.
For more detailed information, you can refer to the original study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.
Adapted from: Wei K, Liao X, Yang T, et al. Efficacy of probiotic supplementation in the treatment of psoriasis-A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Cosmet Dermatol. Published online March 29, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.16299
