title: Bifidobacterium mixture (B longum BB536, B infantis M-63, B breve M-16V) treatment in children with seasonal allergic rhinitis and intermittent asthma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Allergic rhinitis (AR) and allergic asthma are caused by an IgE-mediated inflammatory reaction. Probiotics may exert anti-inflammatory and immune-modulatory activity. Thus, this study aimed at investigating whether a Bifidobacteria mixture could be able to relieve nasal symptoms, and affect quality of life (QoL) in children with AR and intermittent asthma due to Parietaria allergy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study was conducted as placebo-controlled, double-blinded, and randomized. Globally, 40 children (18 males; mean age 9 ± 2.2 years) were enrolled. They were treated with probiotics or placebo: 1 sachet/day for 4 weeks. AR symptoms, and QoL were assessed at baseline and after treatment. Use of rescue medications, such as cetirizine syrup and salbutamol spray, was also permitted and recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children treated with probiotic mixture achieved a significant improvement of symptoms (p < 0.005), and QoL ((p < 0.001). Placebo group had worsening of symptoms (p < 0.005) and QoL (p < 0.001). The use of rescue medications was overlapping in the two groups. The intergroup analysis showed that probiotic mixture was significantly superior than placebo for all parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current study demonstrated that a Bifidobacteria mixture was able of significantly improving AR symptoms and QoL in children with pollen-induced AR and intermittent asthma.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT02807064 .
authors.affiliation: Department of Woman, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miraglia Del Giudice
authors.affiliation: Department of Woman, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristiana
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Indolfi
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Ospedale Civile 'Ave Gratia Plena', Piedimonte Matese, CE, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Capasso
authors.affiliation: Department of Woman, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Nunzia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maiello
authors.affiliation: Department of Woman, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Decimo
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, IRCCS-AOU San Martino-IST, Genoa, Italy. gio.cip@libero.it.
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciprandi
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001644:Bifidobacterium; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations
keywords: Allergic rhinitis; Bifidobacteria; Children; Intermittent asthma; Probiotic; Quality of life