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Prenatal and postnatal administration of Lactobacillus GG reduced the occurrence of atopic disease in offspring

Design
Randomised (unclear allocation concealment^*), blinded (clinicians, patients, and outcome assessors),^*) controlled trial with 2 years of follow up.

Setting
Antenatal clinics in Turku, Finland.

Patients
159 pregnant women who had atopic disease, or 1 first-degree relative (mother, father, or older sibling), or partner with atopic eczema, allergic rhinitis, or asthma. 132 women (83%) and 132 children completed follow up.

Intervention
Mothers were allocated to LGG (1 x 10¹⁰ colony-forming units [Valio Limited, Helsinki, Finland]) (n=77) or to placebo (microcrystalline cellulose) (n=82). The capsules were taken daily for 2 to 4 weeks before expected delivery. After delivery, breastfeeding mothers continued to take the capsules, or the children received the contents mixed with water by spoon. The capsules were taken postnatally for 6 months.

Main outcome measures
A diagnosis of atopic eczema, the main outcome measure, required pruritis or facial or extensor involvement, or both, and a chronic relapsing course (eczema for 1 mo at the . . . [Full text of this article]

Hywel C Williams, MSc, PhD

Centre of Evidence-Based Dermatology Queen's Medical Centre Nottingham, UK