Safety of VSL#3 in Adult Asthmatics

Summary

We are proposing to test the safety of the probiotic, VSL#3, in a placebo controlled double blind safety study in 30 asthmatic adults. This adult safety trial was requested by the FDA IND review of a pediatric asthma protocol. Adults with a doctor diagnosis of persistent asthma will take VSL#3 or placebo twice daily for 3 months. Data will be collected, including age, race, height, and weight, present medications, past medical history with emphasis on signs/symptoms of asthma. On visits to the clinic we will evaluate * Changes in lung function * Intestinal permeability * Intestinal bacteria * Levels of inflammation in the blood * Women will have repeat urine pregnancy testing at each clinic visit

Timeline

Start

2007-02

Primary completion

2013-01

Completion

2013-01

Publications

• Background Bienenstock J, Wiley RE, Neigh GS, Waserman S, Keith P. Probiotics in the management and prevention of atopy. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol. 2002 Jun;22(3):275-85. doi: 10.1007/s12016-002-0012-z. No abstract available.
• Background Hijazi N, Abalkhail B, Seaton A. Diet and childhood asthma in a society in transition: a study in urban and rural Saudi Arabia. Thorax. 2000 Sep;55(9):775-9. doi: 10.1136/thorax.55.9.775.
• Background Kalliomaki M, Isolauri E. Role of intestinal flora in the development of allergy. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2003 Feb;3(1):15-20. doi: 10.1097/00130832-200302000-00003.
• Background Bjorksten B, Naaber P, Sepp E, Mikelsaar M. The intestinal microflora in allergic Estonian and Swedish 2-year-old children. Clin Exp Allergy. 1999 Mar;29(3):342-6. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2222.1999.00560.x.
• Background Hijazi Z, Molla AM, Al-Habashi H, Muawad WM, Molla AM, Sharma PN. Intestinal permeability is increased in bronchial asthma. Arch Dis Child. 2004 Mar;89(3):227-9. doi: 10.1136/adc.2003.027680.
• Background Isolauri E, Salminen S; Nutrition, Allergy, Mucosal Immunology, and Intestinal Microbiota (NAMI) Research Group Report. Probiotics: use in allergic disorders: a Nutrition, Allergy, Mucosal Immunology, and Intestinal Microbiota (NAMI) Research Group Report. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2008 Jul;42 Suppl 2:S91-6. doi: 10.1097/MCG.0b013e3181639a98.
• Background Kalliomaki M, Salminen S, Poussa T, Isolauri E. Probiotics during the first 7 years of life: a cumulative risk reduction of eczema in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2007 Apr;119(4):1019-21. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2006.12.608. Epub 2007 Feb 7. No abstract available.
• Background Laitinen K, Kalliomaki M, Poussa T, Lagstrom H, Isolauri E. Evaluation of diet and growth in children with and without atopic eczema: follow-up study from birth to 4 years. Br J Nutr. 2005 Oct;94(4):565-74. doi: 10.1079/bjn20051503.
• Background Von Ehrenstein OS, Von Mutius E, Illi S, Baumann L, Bohm O, von Kries R. Reduced risk of hay fever and asthma among children of farmers. Clin Exp Allergy. 2000 Feb;30(2):187-93. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2222.2000.00801.x.
• Background Noverr MC, Noggle RM, Toews GB, Huffnagle GB. Role of antibiotics and fungal microbiota in driving pulmonary allergic responses. Infect Immun. 2004 Sep;72(9):4996-5003. doi: 10.1128/IAI.72.9.4996-5003.2004.
• Background Kalliomaki M, Salminen S, Arvilommi H, Kero P, Koskinen P, Isolauri E. Probiotics in primary prevention of atopic disease: a randomised placebo-controlled trial. Lancet. 2001 Apr 7;357(9262):1076-9. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(00)04259-8.
• Background Pessi T, Sutas Y, Hurme M, Isolauri E. Interleukin-10 generation in atopic children following oral Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG. Clin Exp Allergy. 2000 Dec;30(12):1804-8. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2222.2000.00948.x.
• Background Isolauri E, Sutas Y, Kankaanpaa P, Arvilommi H, Salminen S. Probiotics: effects on immunity. Am J Clin Nutr. 2001 Feb;73(2 Suppl):444S-450S. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/73.2.444s.
• Background Weizman Z, Asli G, Alsheikh A. Effect of a probiotic infant formula on infections in child care centers: comparison of two probiotic agents. Pediatrics. 2005 Jan;115(1):5-9. doi: 10.1542/peds.2004-1815.
• Background Land MH, Rouster-Stevens K, Woods CR, Cannon ML, Cnota J, Shetty AK. Lactobacillus sepsis associated with probiotic therapy. Pediatrics. 2005 Jan;115(1):178-81. doi: 10.1542/peds.2004-2137.
• Background Cannon JP, Lee TA, Bolanos JT, Danziger LH. Pathogenic relevance of Lactobacillus: a retrospective review of over 200 cases. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2005 Jan;24(1):31-40. doi: 10.1007/s10096-004-1253-y.
• Background Rinne M, Kalliomaki M, Arvilommi H, Salminen S, Isolauri E. Effect of probiotics and breastfeeding on the bifidobacterium and lactobacillus/enterococcus microbiota and humoral immune responses. J Pediatr. 2005 Aug;147(2):186-91. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2005.03.053.

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