title: Effect of Probiotic Supplementation on Cognitive Function and Metabolic Status in Alzheimer's Disease: A Randomized, Double-Blind and Controlled Trial.
abstract: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with severe cognitive impairments as well as some metabolic defects. Scant studies in animal models indicate a link between probiotics and cognitive function. This randomized, double-blind, and controlled clinical trial was conducted among 60 AD patients to assess the effects of probiotic supplementation on cognitive function and metabolic status. The patients were randomly divided into two groups (n= 30 in each group) treating with either milk (control group) or a mixture of probiotics (probiotic group). The probiotic supplemented group took 200 ml/day probiotic milk containingLactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Bifidobacterium bifidum, andLactobacillus fermentum(2 × 109CFU/g for each) for 12 weeks. Mini-mental state examination (MMSE) score was recorded in all subjects before and after the treatment. Pre- and post-treatment fasting blood samples were obtained to determine the related markers. After 12 weeks intervention, compared with the control group (-5.03% ± 3.00), the probiotic treated (+27.90% ± 8.07) patients showed a significant improvement in the MMSE score (P<0.001). In addition, changes in plasma malondialdehyde (-22.01% ± 4.84 vs. +2.67% ± 3.86 μmol/L,P<0.001), serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (-17.61% ± 3.70 vs. +45.26% ± 3.50 μg/mL,P<0.001), homeostasis model of assessment-estimated insulin resistance (+28.84% ± 13.34 vs. +76.95% ± 24.60,P= 0.002), Beta cell function (+3.45% ± 10.91 vs. +75.62% ± 23.18,P= 0.001), serum triglycerides (-20.29% ± 4.49 vs. -0.16% ± 5.24 mg/dL,P= 0.003), and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (-1.83 ± 1.26 vs. -4.66 ± 1.70,P= 0.006) in the probiotic group were significantly varied compared to the control group. We found that the probiotic treatment had no considerable effect on other biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation, fasting plasma glucose, and other lipid profiles. Overall, the current study demonstrated that probiotic consumption for 12 weeks positively affects cognitive function and some metabolic statuses in the AD patients.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  http://www.irct.ir/, IRCT201511305623N60.
authors.affiliation: Physiology Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences Kashan, Iran.
authors.forename: Elmira
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Akbari
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Kashan University of Medical Sciences Kashan, Iran.
authors.forename: Zatollah
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Asemi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences Kashan, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Daneshvar Kakhaki
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Kashan University of Medical Sciences Kashan, Iran.
authors.forename: Fereshteh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bahmani
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences Kashan, Iran.
authors.forename: Ebrahim
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kouchaki
authors.affiliation: Physiology Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences Kashan, Iran.
authors.forename: Omid Reza
authors.initials: OR
authors.lastname: Tamtaji
authors.affiliation: Physiology Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences Kashan, Iran.
authors.forename: Gholam Ali
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Hamidi
authors.affiliation: Physiology Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences Kashan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salami
keywords: Alzheimer's disease; clinical trial; cognitive function; metabolic status; probiotic