Multi-strain Symbiotic Preparations as a Novel Adjuvant Approach to Allergic Rhinitis

Objective. To investigate the effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM / Bifidobacterium lactis BL-04 / fructooligosaccharide and Lactobacillus plantarum LP01/ Lactobacillus paracasei LPC00 / fructo-oligosaccharide preparations in the routine clinical management of seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) and perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR), respectively. Materials and Methods. Seventy-six and fifty-one outpatients attending 36 Allergy Clinics in Italy with clinically documented allergic rhinitis consumed a symbiotic combination of Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM / Bifidobacterium lactis BL-04/ fructo-oligosaccharide and Lactobacillus plantarum LP01/ Lactobacillus paracasei LPC00 / fructo-oligosaccharide over a period of 4 months. Data on Allergic Rhinitis and Impact on Asthma (ARIA) classification, nasal symptoms severity by Visual Analogical Scale (VAS), and concomitant use of corticosteroids and antihistamines drugs were collected after 2 and 4 months of treatment (T1 and T2 respectively). Results. After the treatment with two multi-strain symbiotic preparations a significant reduction between baseline evaluation (T0) and T1/T2 on total nasal symptoms and ARIA classification of rhinitis were observed. A significant decrease on VAS index at all time points of the treatment vs pre-treatment was detected for Lactobacillus plantarum / Lactobacillus paracasei symbiotic combination; significant decrease was observed for Lactobacillus acidophilus / Bifidobacterium lactis symbiotic combination between T0 and T1, while a further reduction at T2 did not reach statistical significance. In addition a decrease in consumption of orally-administered corticosteroids and antihistamines drugs was found. Conclusion. These data on the effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM/ Bifidobacterium lactis BL-04 / fructooligosaccharide and Lactobacillus plantarum LP01/ Lactobacillus paracasei LPC00 / fructo-oligosaccharide preparations support their potential positive effect in the routine clinical management of subjects with SAR and PAR, respectively. Future studies are warranted to confirm this potential beneficial effect.