Oral Postbiotics as a Therapeutic Strategy for Atopic Dermatitis: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a prevalent chronic skin disease affecting all age groups. The connection with the gut microbiome led to oral probiotics as a therapeutic strategy. However, being viable microorganisms, probiotics might present risks. Thus, non-viable postbiotics have been considered as an alternative. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of oral Lactobacillus postbiotics for managing symptoms of AD in pediatric and adult patients. A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Nine randomized controlled trials assessing the effects of non-viable Lactobacillus spp. administered orally to patients diagnosed with AD were included in the review, in which 512 subjects were evaluated after the intervention. Most studies allowed the concomitant usage of corticosteroids. Three studies focused on adults and indicated symptom improvement. In contrast, three out of six trials evaluating pediatric patients did not report postbiotics-favoring results. The dosage seems to be relevant for outcome determination. Two trials compared postbiotics with their viable analogs, and only one reported positive results in both groups. Postbiotics-associated shifts in gut microbial communities were reported in one trial. Mild adverse effects were detected by a single study. The overall results suggested that Lactobacillus postbiotics might be successfully used as adjuvant AD therapy in adults. Thus far, data do not indicate efficacy in pediatric patients. Standardizing nomenclatures and experimental procedures, as well as expanding the studies to more geographic locations and assessing comprehensively the effects on the gut microbiome would provide better perspectives of postbiotics as a therapeutic option for AD.

KEY TEACHING POINTS

• The usage of oral probiotics has been driven by the recognized connection between atopic dermatitis (AD) and the gut microbiome.

• Probiotics might offer risks as they are viable microorganisms and non-viable postbiotics have been considered as an alternative. However, their effectiveness and safety in AD patients is not totally clear.

• This systematic review of clinical trials evaluated the effects of non-viable Lactobacillus spp. administered orally to AD patients.

• Results suggested that adult patients might benefit from oral Lactobacillus postbiotics; however, the efficacy in pediatric patients is uncertain.

Keywords:

• Lactobacillus
• heat-killed
• gut microbiome
• inflammatory skin diseases
• brain-gut-skin axis

Author contributions

LCP designed the study and wrote the manuscript, ML carried out the systematic review, ML and LCP performed the analysis, and approved the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.