Probiotics and prebiotics for the prevention and treatment of atopic eczema

The rapid increase of atopic diseases, particularly in western industrialized countries, demands comprehensive and cost-effective primary prevention. Existing findings regarding the use of probiotic lactic acid bacteria for the prevention of atopic eczema are promising. Therapeutic use appears to be more promising for infants with mild to moderate skin lesions and elevated immunoglobulin E levels than for older patients without any sensitization. Depending on the original bacterial count, prebiotics such as fructooligosaccharides and galactooligosaccharides cause an increase of bifidobacteria within the colon. The benefit of this increase in bifidobacteria in allergic diseases is unclear. In patients with atopic eczema a correlation was shown between the amount of bifidobacteria and the severity of atopic eczema.