title: Probiotic supplementation in systemic nickel allergy syndrome patients: study of its effects on lactic acid bacteria population and on clinical symptoms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study aimed to evaluate the effects of probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 strain supplementation in patients suffering from systemic nickel allergy syndrome, in terms of modulation of faecal LAB population linked to a reduction of GI and cutaneous symptoms and to an increase of patient's quality of life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A preliminary double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study was planned and a culture-independent method based on denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis coupled to the 16S rRNA gene sequencing was applied to investigate on the dynamics of faecal LAB communities before and during a low-Ni diet, supplemented with the probiotic strain. Moreover, the severity and the frequency of GI and cutaneous reactions as well as patient's clinical condition perception (VAS scores) were estimated by statistical analysis. PCR-DGGE fingerprinting obtained using LAB-specific primers revealed significant shift in faecal community with an increase in biodiversity in patients supplemented with probiotic Lact. reuteri strain. In addition, GI reactions such as symptoms related to meals and type of stools significantly improved only in patients treated with Lact. reuteri, while severity and frequency of cutaneous symptoms (urticaria, itch and eczema) and recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) as well as VAS scores statistically decreased in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our preliminary findings suggest that probiotic Lact. reuteri could be a useful supplementation during a low-Ni diet of patients with SNAS, to increase LAB population diversity, which could contribute to restore the intestinal homoeostasis conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To date, no information is available on probiotics application and on their effects, in terms of intestinal microbiota modulation, on patients suffering from SNAS. Therefore, the identification of dominant LAB community and the study of its shift during the probiotic supplementation could enhance the knowledge of the SNAS syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agri-food and Environmental Systems Management, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Randazzo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pino
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ricciardi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Comito
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arena
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saitta
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caggia
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D058645:Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D052200:Limosilactobacillus reuteri; D008875:Middle Aged; D009532:Nickel / Q000633:toxicity*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D009532:Nickel
keywords: Lact. reuteri; PCR-DGGE; SNAS; clinical outcomes; faecal samples; low-nickel diet