Effectiveness of PENTABIOCEL in Clinical and Laboratory Recovery of Children With Celiac Disease

Celiac disease (CD) is an intestinal inflammatory condition characterized by permanent intolerance to gluten, a protein complex present in wheat, barley, and rye, in genetically predisposed subjects. In the early phase of the disease, specific autoantibodies are generally present, which is relevant for diagnostic purposes (especially anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies (anti TTG) of IgA (immunoglobulin A) class and anti-endomysial antibodies( EMA), and a duodenal and jejunal mucosal lesion that is characterized by an increase in intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL), hypertrophy of crypts and villous atrophy. The only accepted and effective treatment for CD so far is a lifelong strict gluten-free diet(GFD).

On the clinical level, CD can have an extremely variable expression, from almost silent forms to cases with more or less striking intestinal and extra-intestinal manifestations. Treatment with a strict GFD causes gradual normalisation of the intestinal lesion (generally within 12-24 months). The persistence of a minimal intestinal lesion and of mostly gastro-enteric symptoms, is not rare in adulthood, especially for the difficulty of maintaining a "zero gluten content" diet over time. The "timing" of recovery induced by the GFD is variable from patient to patient and depends on numerous factors such as presentation mode (typical, atypical or silent), the age of onset, adherence to a strict GFD, etc. Among the factors that may condition the normalisation of the clinical picture. According to some recent data, the quantitative and qualitative typology of the intestinal microbiome may have role. Prospective studies in healthy infants who are at risk of developing CD have shown that the Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) genotype, together with other environmental factors, influences the composition of the microbiota. In addition, celiac patients have alterations of the intestinal microbiome (dysbiosis) that do not completely normalize even after starting GFD. It has therefore been suggested that CD may favor dysbiosis which in turn negatively influences intestinal mucosal damage and can promote inflammation through the expansion of harmful bacteria and the reduction of beneficial bacteria.

Probiotics are live microorganisms, that when ingested in appropriate quantities, give to the host benefits. Some probiotics may digest gluten and are thus able to reduce their toxicity when used in fermentation processes. For example, a research group (Di Cagno et al.) has shown that bakery products made using a natural yeast with wheat flour fermented by proteases of lactobacilli and mushrooms, can be taken with confidence by celiac patients. This data suggests that the simple administration of a probiotic is capable to provide benefit in patients with CD leading to an improvement also of intestinal symptoms. However, it is clear from the literature that not all probiotic strains possess this characteristic. It has been shown that a mixture of probiotic strains, in particular belonging to the species Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus plantarum, Bifidobacterium breve, and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis, is able to significantly improve the irritable colon-like gastrointestinal symptoms of patients with CD. Pentabiocel is the trade name of the product containing the above mentioned probiotic mixture: Lactobacillus paracasei (LMG P-17504), Lactobacillus plantarum (CECT 4528), Bifidobacterium breve Bbr8 (LMG P-17501), Bifidobacterium breve (BL10 LMG P-17500) and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis Bi1 (LMG P -17,502).

In this randomized double blind placebo controlled trial study investigators will investigate the effect of "Pentabiocel" on children already on GFD.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of "Pentabiocel" in the clinical and laboratory recovery of children with celiac disease