Cited by 269Gut microbiota and healthProbiotics and Fermented FoodsTryptophan and brain disorders

Probiotic Supplementation in Patients with Alzheimer’s Dementia - An Explorative Intervention Study

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Leblhuber, Friedrich, Steiner, Kostja, Schuetz, Burkhard, Fuchs, Dietmar, Gostner, Johanna M.·2018·Current Alzheimer Research

Abstract

Background: Dysbiosis of intestinal microbiota in the elderly can cause a leaky gut, which may result in silent systemic inflammation and promote neuroinflammation - a relevant pathomechanism in the early course of Alzheimer’s disease. Objective: The rebalancing of the microbiome could benefically impact on gut inflammation and immune activation. Methods: In this study, routine laboratory tests in twenty outpatients (9 females, 11 males, aged 76.7 ± 9.6 years) with Alzheimer’s disease were investigated. The mean Mini Mental State Examination score was 18.5 ± 7.7. Biomarkers of immune activation – serum neopterin and tryptophan breakdown - as well as gut inflammation markers and microbiota composition in fecal specimens were analyzed in 18 patients before and after probiotic supplementation for 4 weeks. Results: After treatment a decline of fecal zonulin concentrations and an increase in Faecalibacterium prausnitzii compared to baseline were observed. At the same time, serum kynurenine concentrations increased (p <0.05). Delta values (before - after) of neopterin and the kynurenine to tryptophan ratios (Kyn/Trp) correlated significantly (p <0.05). Conclusion: Results show that the supplementation of Alzheimer’s disease patients with a multispecies probiotic influences gut bacteria composition as well as tryptophan metabolism in serum. The correlation between Kyn/Trp and neopterin concentrations points to the activation of macrophages and/or dendritic cells. Further studies are warranted to dissect the potential consequences of Probiotic supplementation in the course of Alzheimer’s disease.

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  • Intake of probiotics of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium genera along with Lactococcus lacti and additional vitamin D activated the immune system in humans.

    “Study on human included intake of probiotics which belonged to genera Lactobacillus (L. casei, L. acidophilus, L. plantarum, L. salivarius, L. paracasei) and Bifidobacterium (Bifidobacterium lactis and Bifidobacterium bifidum) along with Lactococcus lacti. Vitamin D was given additionally. Results were produced which showed activation of immune system.”
  • Probiotic supplements should be mild and not very intensive because intensive supplementation can disrupt gut microbiota, activate the immune system and lead to neuroinflammation.

    “The probiotic supplements should be mild and not very intensive as it can lead to disruption of gut microbiota activating the immune system and leading to neuroinflammation [129].”

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Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. Widner B, Werner ER, Schennach H, Wachter H, Fuchs D. Simul- taneous measurements of serum tryptophan and kynurenine by HPLC. Clin Chem 43(12): 2424-26 (1997).
  2. Widner B, Leblhuber F, Walli J, Tilz GP, Demel U, Fuchs D. Tryp- tophan degradation and immune activation in Alzheimer's disease. J Neural Transm 107(3): 343-53 (2000).
  3. Li J, Lin S, Vanhutte PM, Woo CW, Xu A. Akkermansia muciniphila protects against atherosclerosis by preventing endo- toxemia induced inflammation in ApoE -/-mice. Circulation 133(24): 2434-46 (2016).

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Authors
Leblhuber, F., Steiner, K., Schuetz, B., Fuchs, D., & Gostner, J. M.
Affiliations
  • Kepler Universitätsklinikum (AT)
  • VRVis GmbH (Austria) (AT)
  • Innsbruck Medical University (AT)
Corresponding author
Fuchs, Dietmar
Venue
Current Alzheimer Research
Published
2018-09-28
Volume
15
Issue
12
Pages
1106-1113
ISSN
1567-2050 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2886952520
Cited by
269
References
51
Citations by year
2026: 19 · 2025: 30 · 2024: 34 · 2023: 40 · 2022: 45 · 2021: 42 · 2020: 35 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 3
FWCI
8.98
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Current Alzheimer Research (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Probiotics and Fermented Foods
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
Keywords
probiotic supplementation, Alzheimer's disease, dementia, gut microbiota, dysbiosis, leaky gut, zonulin, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, kynurenine, tryptophan metabolism, neopterin, neuroinflammation, macrophage activation, older adults
MeSH terms
Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Alzheimer Disease, Cholera Toxin, Feces, Female, Haptoglobins, Humans, Male, Mental Status Schedule, Middle Aged, Protein Precursors, Dietary Supplements, Probiotics

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