Probiotic Therapy Shows Promise in Treatment of Autoimmune Diseases: Study

Autoimmune diseases, including fibromyalgia, psoriasis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), lupus nephritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease, result from dysregulation of the immune system. Genetic, environmental, and microbial factors, particularly gut microbiota, are implicated in their pathogenesis. Probiotics, defined as beneficial microorganisms that colonize the gut and modulate host immunity and metabolism, offer a promising avenue for treatment.

The study conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the efficacy of probiotic therapy in autoimmune diseases. Researchers searched multiple databases for eligible trials up to June 2022 and assessed outcomes such as Disease Activity Score at 28 joints (DAS28), Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Measure (SLEDAI).

The key findings of the study were

• Out of 5799 studies screened, 80 RCTs encompassing 14 autoimmune diseases were included, originating from 27 countries.

• Probiotic therapy demonstrated efficacy in various autoimmune diseases, including improvements in pain for fibromyalgia patients and reductions in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores for psoriasis patients.

• Adverse events associated with probiotic therapy were minimal, with only one trial reporting non-significant differences compared to controls.

• While no significant differences were observed in Disease Activity Score (DAS28) for certain diseases, improvements were noted in hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) levels for type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1Dm) patients.

The meta-analysis highlights the potential of probiotic therapy in managing autoimmune diseases, with notable improvements in disease activity, symptomatology, and biochemical markers. Importantly, the safety profile of probiotics appears favorable, with minimal adverse events reported across trials.

These findings underscore the significance of gut microbiota modulation in autoimmune disease management. Probiotic therapy represents a promising adjunctive treatment strategy, particularly for conditions such as ulcerative colitis, where improvements in endoscopic scores and inflammatory markers were observed.

The study provides compelling evidence for the efficacy and safety of probiotic therapy in autoimmune diseases, suggesting its potential as a complementary therapeutic approach. However, further well-designed RCTs are warranted to validate these findings and elucidate optimal probiotic strains, dosages, and treatment durations for specific autoimmune conditions.

Reference:

Zeng L, Yang K, He Q, et al. Efficacy and safety of gut microbiota-based therapies in autoimmune and rheumatic diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 80 randomized controlled trials. BMC Med. 2024;22(1):110. Published 2024 Mar 13. doi:10.1186/s12916-024-03303-4