Epilepsy is a neurological disease with high global prevalence. Despite the range of drug-based treatments currently available to control the condition, one in 3 patients experiences epileptic seizures. Therapeutic alternatives for these patients include the ketogenic diet, surgery or the cerebral implantation of neurostimulators; however these are benefits with limits. The target of this study is to find a new complementary treatment for these patients, studying the effectiveness of probiotics for controlling epileptic seizures in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. A prospective study was designed in which a group of patients with drug-resistant epilepsy was administered a probiotic mixture for 4 months. Patients were assessed before and after taking the probiotics; among other variables, number of seizures and patients’ quality of life (QOLIE-10) were monitored. Levels of cD-14, interleukin 6, and γ-aminobutyric acid were also analysed throughout the study. 45 patients were included in the study. In an intention-to-treat analysis, 28.9% of all patients displayed a greater than 50% reduction in the number of seizures (the parameter required in clinical trials). A significant improvement was also observed in patients’ quality of life. We found that probiotics may be an option for supplementary therapy. Since the use of probiotics is safe, they may contribute to improving seizure control, and therefore quality of life, in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. The study has been registered in https://clinicaltrials.gov with number NCT03403907.
RESEARCH ARTICLE
The beneficial effect of probiotics as a supplementary treatment in drug-resistant epilepsy: a pilot study
M. Gómez-Eguílaz Related information
1Department of Neurology, Hospital San Pedro, Piqueras 98, 26006 Logroño, Spain.
*Corresponding author: mgomeze@riojasalud. es
, J.L. Ramón-Trapero Related information*Corresponding author: mgomeze@riojasalud.
2Centro de Salud Calahorra, Av. Numancia 37, 26500 Calahorra, La Rioja, Spain.
, L. Pérez-Martínez Related information3Infectious Diseases Department, Centro de Investigación Biomédica de La Rioja (CIBIR), C/Piqueras, 98, Logroño, La Rioja, 26006 LR, Spain.
, J.R. Blanco Related information4Infectious Diseases Service, Hospital San Pedro – CIBIR, C/Piqueras, 98, Logroño, La Rioja, 26006 LR, Spain.
Beneficial Microbes: 9
(6)- Pages: 875 - 881
Published Online: September 10, 2018
Abstract
Keywords: epilepsy, inflammation, microbiota, probiotics
2022 Journal Impact Factor
5.4
source: Journal Impact Factor 2023™ from Clarivate™
Institutional Offers
For institutional orders, please contact [email protected].
-
A.A. Hibberd, C.C. Yde, M.L. Ziegler, A.H. Honoré, M.T. Saarinen, S. Lahtinen, B. Stahl, H.M. Jensen and L.K. Stenman
-
E.E. Blaak, E.E. Canfora, S. Theis, G. Frost, A.K. Groen, G. Mithieux, A. Nauta, K. Scott, B. Stahl, J. van Harsselaar, R. van Tol, E.E. Vaughan and K. Verbeke
-
K. Venema, J. Verhoeven, C. Beckman and D. Keller
-
E. Arvidsson Nordström, C. Teixeira, C. Montelius, B. Jeppsson and N. Larsson
-
J.E. Haarhuis, A. Kardinaal and G.A.M. Kortman
-
E.E. Blaak, E.E. Canfora, S. Theis, G. Frost, A.K. Groen, G. Mithieux, A. Nauta, K. Scott, B. Stahl, J. van Harsselaar, R. van Tol, E.E. Vaughan and K. Verbeke
-
K. Lippert, L. Kedenko, L. Antonielli, I. Kedenko, C. Gemeier, M. Leitner, A. Kautzky-Willer, B. Paulweber and E. Hackl
-
K. Tsilingiri and M. Rescigno
-
M. Ozen and E.C. Dinleyici
-
Y. Kobayashi, T. Kuhara, M. Oki and J.-Z. Xiao