A recent randomized trial has shown that administering probiotics to patients with both Parkinson’s disease and constipation for a duration of 3 months not only positively impacted their gut microbiome but also led to improvements in nonmotor symptoms like sleep, fatigue, and constipation.
Dr. Valentina Leta, the presenter of the study at the International Congress of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders (MDS) 2023, highlighted the widespread occurrence of gastrointestinal dysfunction in individuals with Parkinson’s. Recognizing this, the research team, led by Prof. K. Ray Chaudhuri, conducted a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 74 participants.
The probiotic used in the study, a liquid formulation named Symprove, consisted of four strains: Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum.
Results indicated a statistically significant increase in the abundance of beneficial bacteria, such as Odoribacteraceae, known to be reduced in people with Parkinson’s. This bacterium is involved in the production of short-chain fatty acids, known for their health-related benefits.
Furthermore, the study demonstrated a notable reduction in the “time to on” for levodopa treatment among those taking the probiotic, shortening the delay from 31.43 minutes to 23.95 minutes. Improvements were also observed in the Non-Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS) score, particularly in sleep, fatigue, and gastrointestinal domains.
According to Dr. Claudia Trenkwalder, a neurology professor not involved in the study, the use of probiotics is a significant topic in Parkinson’s disease research, especially among patients. While the trial confirmed the probiotic’s positive effects on constipation, the data cannot conclusively establish whether it directly impacted Parkinson’s symptoms.
Participants and researchers found the probiotic intervention well-tolerated and safe, with no serious adverse events reported. This study was funded by various institutions, including the UK National Institute for Health Research and Parkinson’s UK, along with support from Symprove Ltd.
In conclusion, the study provides valuable insights into the potential benefits of probiotics in managing symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease, particularly constipation, and warrants further investigation into the gut-brain axis in this context.
