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The influence of probiotics for preterm neonates on the incidence of atopic dermatitis—results from a historically controlled cohort study

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Abstract

Probiotic supplementation is a promising preventive strategy for atopic dermatitis (AD). To help clarifying the significance of timing with respect to prevention of AD, we here evaluate the benefit of prophylactic use of probiotic supplementation in neonates younger than 30 weeks of gestation. Preterm children from the Department of Neonatology, Rigshospitalet, Denmark from two different admission periods were included in a historically controlled cohort study. Neonates from January 2007 to February 2010, not treated with and neonates from March 2010 to February 2013 treated with probiotic were enrolled. Main outcome was prevalence of AD, and secondary outcomes were use of topical corticosteroids, and number of skin-related visits to GPs and dermatologists. 527 preterm neonates were included in the study, 249 treated and 278 not treated with probiotics. Response rate for the two cohorts was 76.7 and 77.7% respectively. The prevalence of AD was similar in the two groups (20.9% in the probiotic treated group versus 17.1% in the not treated group, p = 0.33). No significant differences were found between the groups with respect to treatment with topical corticosteroids, or visits at GPs or dermatologist. We found no indication that probiotics may prevent AD when administered to neonates <30 gestation weeks from birth until discharge home. Factors influencing the early maturation of the immune system have been assumed to be of particular importance in atopic dermatitis, and hence, our unique cohorts contribute information on how probiotic supplementation may affect the extremely immature immune systems of preterm infants.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank all the families for taking time to answer the questionnaires.

Funding

The work was generously supported by a grant from the Aage Bangs foundation (mo. 62-2013/14).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, University of Copenhagen, Herlev Hospital, 2730, Herlev, Denmark

    Julie A. Damm

  2. Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, Statens Serum Institute, 2300, Copenhagen S, Denmark

    Birgitte Smith & Karen A. Krogfelt

  3. Department of Neonatology, Rigshospitalet, 2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark

    Gorm Greisen

  4. Department of Dermatology, University of Copenhagen, Bispebjerg Hospital, 2400, Copenhagen NV, Denmark

    Maja-Lisa Clausen & Tove Agner

Authors
  1. Julie A. Damm
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  2. Birgitte Smith
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  3. Gorm Greisen
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  4. Karen A. Krogfelt
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  5. Maja-Lisa Clausen
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  6. Tove Agner
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Correspondence to Julie A. Damm.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

The study was approved by the Danish Data Agency (BBH-2014-066). According to Danish law, ethical approval is not needed for questionnaires.

Research involving human and animal participants

This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

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Damm, J.A., Smith, B., Greisen, G. et al. The influence of probiotics for preterm neonates on the incidence of atopic dermatitis—results from a historically controlled cohort study. Arch Dermatol Res 309, 259–264 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-017-1725-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-017-1725-4

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