Although the therapeutic effects of probiotics in atopic dermatitis (AD) are known, the limited findings in adults are inconsistent. Lactobacillus plantarum (LP) IS-10506 was found to improve AD sy...

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is chronic inflammatory skin disease that is relapsing and a serious condition that disrupts the quality of life of affected individuals. Probiotics are an immunomodulator that can enhance the immune control of atopic dermatitis. Methods: All randomized controlled trials of probiotics for the treatment of adult AD published before December 2020 were included in this study from the PubMed databases and manual searching. Results: Six randomized controlled trials (n = 241) were selected for this meta-analysis study. Probiotics were effective in treating adult patients with AD, indicated by the decrease in Scoring Atopic Dermatitis/SCORAD (Mean Difference (MD) − 7.90, 95% CI − 7.25 to − 6.92; p < 0.00001; I² = 96%) and improved quality of life (MD − 7.68, 95% CI − 14.08 to − 1.29; p = 0.02; I² = 47%) which were statistically significant. However, skin severity, itch severity, Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), IL-4, TFN-γ, and IgE showed no significant difference in this meta-analysis study (p > 0.05). Limitations: The study found no available data for side effects of probiotics. Strength: This meta-analysis analyzed a total of 241 AD patients of Asian and European origin. Conclusion: The use of probiotics decreased SCORAD significantly in adult patients with AD. Probiotics can improve the quality of life of patients with AD. Capsule summary: The use of probiotics in atopic dermatitis has been widely studied, with controversial results. This meta-analysis suggests that the use of probiotics can improve SCORAD and the quality of life of patients with atopic dermatitis.

Aim To test the effect of microencapsulation on the survival of two probiotic strains isolated from Dadih, Indonesian fermented buffalo milk, in a dynamic, computer-controlled in vitro model of the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract (TIM-1), simulating human adults. Methods and Results Free or microencapsulated probiotics, Lactobacillus plantarum IS-10506 or Enterococcus faecium IS-27526, resuspended in milk were studied for survival in the complete TIM-1 system (stomach + small intestine) or in the gastric compartment of TIM-1 only. Hourly samples collected after the ileal-caecal valve or after the pylorus were plated on MRS agar (for Lactobacillus) or S&B agar (for Enterococcus). Survival of the free cells after transit through the complete TIM-1 system was on average for the E. faecium and L. plantarum 15·0 and 18·5% respectively. Survival of the microencapsulated E. faecium and L. plantarum was 15·7 and 84·5% respectively. The free cells were further assessed in only the gastric compartment of TIM-1. E. faecium and L. plantarum showed an average survival of 39 and 32%, respectively, after gastric passage. Conclusion There is similar sensitivity to gastric acid as well as survival after complete upper GI tract transit of free cells, but microencapsulation only protected L. plantarum. Significance and Impact of Study Survival of microencapsulated L. plantarum IS-10506 is increased compared to free cells in a validated in vitro model of the upper GI tract. It increases its use as an ingredient of functional foods.

This study aims at an in vitro characterization of the acid and bile tolerance of Lactobacillus fermentum InaCC B1295 (LFB1295) encapsulated with hydrogel cellulose microfibers (CMF) from oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFBs). The viability at different storage temperatures was assessed. The experimental design used in this research was an in vitro trial. The microencapsulated probiotic was stored at 25 °C and 4 °C for 28 days. LFB1295 encapsulated with cellulose microfiber hydrogel from OPEFB showed a stable viability of probiotic bacteria at pH 2 and 0.5% (m/v) oxgall. In addition, the microencapsulation maintained the viability at 25 °C and 4 °C at 0, 14, and 28 days. The characterization of the encapsulant CMF-OPEFB showed that the thickness of CMF was in the range of 5–15 μm, and XRD patterns showed that CMF was of the cellulose I type with a crystallinity index of 77.08%. Based on its resistance to hydrogen peroxide, ability to scavenge DPPH radicals, and activity in scavenging hydroxyl radicals, LFB1295 encapsulated with CMF hydrogel of OPEFB exhibits antioxidant properties as good as the scavenging ability of DPPH radicals with IC₅₀ of 36.880, 188.530, and 195.358 µg/mL, respectively, during storage for 0, 14, and 28 days at room and refrigerated temperature. Furthermore, hydroxyl radicals (HR)-scavenging activity showed an increased inhibition along with the increasing concentration of the Fenton reaction and decreasing concentration of cell-free supernatant (CFS) during storage time. In vitro safety tests, including hemolytic activity, biogenic amines, cytolysin, and gelatinase production, showed that the encapsulated LFB1295 was safe to use as a probiotic. The results of the inhibitory activity against hydrogen peroxide LFB1295 show that the higher the concentration of H₂O₂, the lower the inhibition value during 28 days of storage. Based on the storage temperature, the inhibition of LAB against H₂O₂ based on different storage temperatures showed a better level of the inhibition at cold temperatures compared to at room temperature.