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Atopic DermatitisNCT03157284

Efficacy of Fermented Rice Flour for the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis

A study testing Rice Flour in people with Atopic Dermatitis, run by Heinz Italia SpA at 1 site in Italy.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

This Study Evaluate the efficacy of the subministration of fermented rice flour (7 g/day) on the clinical course of patients with moderate or severe Atopic Dermatitis, in terms of a reduction in the SCORAD score, during the study period and four weeks after the suspension of the treatment. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 6 to 36 months
Conditions the study is for
Atopic Dermatitis
What is being tested?
Rice Flour
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
58 participants
Where
1 siteItaly
Study dates
23 Jan 2017to 29 May 2019
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 6 to 36 months
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Child

Who may be able to join

  • Children between 6 and 36 months old, gradually enrolled from among patients attending the Paediatric Dermatology and Allergy Clinic
  • Diagnosis of moderate or severe Atopic Dermatitis, evaluated using the SCORAD index

Who cannot join

  • Rhinitis and/or acute asthma
  • Chronic diseases (autoimmune diseases, Cronic Obstructive Pulmunary Disease, heart disease, Congenital Nephrotic diseases, diabetes, acquired or congenital immunodeficiency)
  • Treatment with prebiotics and/or probiotics in the month prior to enrolment
  • Ongoing antibiotic therapy
  • Treatment with systemic immunomodulators in the month prior to enrolment
  • Treatment with topical immunomodulators (tacrolimus or pimecrolimus) in the three months prior to enrolment

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Italy1 site
  • Ospedale dei Bambini Vittore Buzzi-Clinica Pediatrica

    Milan

Other trials in Italy

About this study

Official title: Efficacy of Fermented Rice Flour for the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis : Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

This Study Evaluate the efficacy of the subministration of fermented rice flour (7 g/day) on the clinical course of patients with moderate or severe Atopic Dermatitis, in terms of a reduction in the SCORAD score, during the study period and four weeks after the suspension of the treatment.

Read the detailed description

It is scientifically recognised that some probiotic effects can be obtained from inactivated bacteria or isolated bacterial components (e.g. bacterial DNA) or factors produced during fermentation (short-chain fatty acids, bacterial proteins, etc.) (7). This category also includes the ingredient which forms the focus of this trial: fermented rice flour, prepared from rice flour fermented by a probiotic (Lactobacillus paracasei CBA L74) which was heat-inactivated at the end of the fermentation process. The finished product, therefore, does not contain live bacteria.

The bacterium used - owned by the sponsor and filed with the BCCM/LMG bacteria collection - belongs to the species Lactobacillus paracasei, and is included in the Qualified Presumption of Safety (QPS) list of microorganisms compiled by the European Food Safety Authority's Panel on Biological Hazards (8). The bacterium has been tested for its sensitivity to antibiotics on the basis of the relevant criteria drawn up by the EFSA (9) and its genomic sequence is known. Pre-clinical studies have shown anti-inflammatory effects of food matrices fermented with Lactobacillus paracasei CBA L74 (stimulating the production of IL-10 and the reduction of IL-12), and in response to stimulation with Salmonella typhimurium (10). Recently, the clinical effects of the consumption of rice flour fermented with Lactobacillus paracasei CBA L74 for 12 weeks were tested in a pilot study conducted on children with moderate/severe AD (defined using the SCORAD index) (11). In this study, all the children reported an improvement in the severity of the AD and reduced topical steroid application frequency.

Considering the rationale for the use of live or inactivated probiotics or isolated bacterial components for the treatment of AD as well as the clinical studies in the paediatric population that have shown encouraging results (11), this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial aims to evaluate the efficacy of rice flour fermented with Lactobacillus paracasei CBA L74 in subjects with AD; in particular, this trial will evaluate the clinical response in terms of the severity of the AD during and at the end of a 12-week treatment period and four weeks after the suspension of the treatment.

Being tested
Rice Flour, Placebo
Keywords
Lactobacillus, Probiotics
Medical subject headings
Dermatitis, Atopic

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Rice FlourDietary supplement

    For 12 weeks, a group of children will receive 7gr fermented rice flour according to a randomised, double-blind design.

  • PlaceboDietary supplement

    For 12 weeks a group of children will receive a 7gr of a placebo (maltodextrin), according to a randomised, double-blind design.

Study groups in NCT03157284
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
PlaceboPlacebo comparatorPlacebo Group will receive 7gr Maltodextrin
Receives: Dietary Supplement: Placebo
Intervention Rice FlourExperimentalThe Intervention Group will receive 7gr of the experimental ingredient fermented Rice Flour
Receives: Dietary Supplement: Rice Flour

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Reduction in the SCORAD score

    Standardised questionnaire for calculating the SCORAD score:

    Evaluate the efficacy of the administration of fermented rice flour (7 g/day) on the clinical course of patients with moderate or severe Atopic Dermatitis, in terms of a reduction in the SCORAD score, during the study period and four weeks after the suspension of the treatment

    Measured: 16 weeks

Secondary outcomes (4)
  1. Inflammatory response :Peripheral immunophenotype analysis and Cytokine profile

    Evaluate the inflammatory response at baseline (T0) and at the end of treatment (T12) in terms of inflammation markers (cytokine profile) and peripheral immunophenotype compared to the placebo group.Peripheral cytokine assay (IFNγ, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, IL-18, IL-31) at baseline and after specific stimulation (anti-CD3/CD28) or non-specific stimulation (PHA) on all enrolled children.

    Measured: 12 weeks

  2. Allergic sensitisation:Total and specific IgE (sIgE) assay

    Evaluate allergic sensitisation by total and specific IgE (sIgE) assay at baseline (T0) and at the end of treatment (T12) compared to the placebo group

    Measured: 12 weeks

  3. Steroids prescription

    Evaluate the prescription of topical steroid therapy in the group of children treated with fermented rice flour compared to the placebo group.

    Measured: 16 weeks

  4. Faecal microbiota analysis

    Evaluate the change in intestinal microbial flora between T0 and T12

    Measured: 12 weeks

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted17 May 2017
  2. Study start23 Jan 2017
  3. Primary completion24 May 2019
  4. Study completion29 May 2019

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Factorial
Masking
Double blind
Who is masked
Participant, Investigator
Enrolment
58 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT03157284
Sponsor's protocol ID
FERCT16
Status last verified
Dec 2019
First submitted
1 May 2017
Last updated
18 Dec 2019
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Elias PM, Steinhoff M. "Outside-to-inside" (and now back to "outside") pathogenic mechanisms in atopic dermatitis. J Invest Dermatol. 2008 May;128(5):1067-70. doi: 10.1038/jid.2008.88.

    PubMed 18408746
  • Sidbury R, Tom WL, Bergman JN, Cooper KD, Silverman RA, Berger TG, Chamlin SL, Cohen DE, Cordoro KM, Davis DM, Feldman SR, Hanifin JM, Krol A, Margolis DJ, Paller AS, Schwarzenberger K, Simpson EL, Williams HC, Elmets CA, Block J, Harrod CG, Smith Begolka W, Eichenfield LF. Guidelines of care for the management of atopic dermatitis: Section 4. Prevention of disease flares and use of adjunctive therapies and approaches. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2014 Dec;71(6):1218-33. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2014.08.038. Epub 2014 Sep 26.

    PubMed 25264237
  • Isolauri E, Arvola T, Sutas Y, Moilanen E, Salminen S. Probiotics in the management of atopic eczema. Clin Exp Allergy. 2000 Nov;30(11):1604-10. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2222.2000.00943.x.

    PubMed 11069570
  • Weston S, Halbert A, Richmond P, Prescott SL. Effects of probiotics on atopic dermatitis: a randomised controlled trial. Arch Dis Child. 2005 Sep;90(9):892-7. doi: 10.1136/adc.2004.060673. Epub 2005 Apr 29.

    PubMed 15863468
  • Majamaa H, Isolauri E. Probiotics: a novel approach in the management of food allergy. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1997 Feb;99(2):179-85. doi: 10.1016/s0091-6749(97)70093-9.

    PubMed 9042042
  • Sistek D, Kelly R, Wickens K, Stanley T, Fitzharris P, Crane J. Is the effect of probiotics on atopic dermatitis confined to food sensitized children? Clin Exp Allergy. 2006 May;36(5):629-33. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2006.02485.x.

    PubMed 16650048
  • Agostoni C, Goulet O, Kolacek S, Koletzko B, Moreno L, Puntis J, Rigo J, Shamir R, Szajewska H, Turck D; ESPGHAN Committee on Nutrition. Fermented infant formulae without live bacteria. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2007 Mar;44(3):392-7. doi: 10.1097/01.mpg.0000258887.93866.69.

    PubMed 17325568
  • Zagato E, Mileti E, Massimiliano L, Fasano F, Budelli A, Penna G, Rescigno M. Lactobacillus paracasei CBA L74 metabolic products and fermented milk for infant formula have anti-inflammatory activity on dendritic cells in vitro and protective effects against colitis and an enteric pathogen in vivo. PLoS One. 2014 Feb 10;9(2):e87615. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0087615. eCollection 2014.

    PubMed 24520333
  • Beretta S, Fabiano V, Petruzzi M, Budelli A, Zuccotti GV. Fermented rice flour in pediatric atopic dermatitis. Dermatitis. 2015 Mar-Apr;26(2):104-6. doi: 10.1097/DER.0000000000000103. No abstract available.

    PubMed 25757084
  • Severity scoring of atopic dermatitis: the SCORAD index. Consensus Report of the European Task Force on Atopic Dermatitis. Dermatology. 1993;186(1):23-31. doi: 10.1159/000247298.

    PubMed 8435513
  • Schram ME, Spuls PI, Leeflang MM, Lindeboom R, Bos JD, Schmitt J. EASI, (objective) SCORAD and POEM for atopic eczema: responsiveness and minimal clinically important difference. Allergy. 2012 Jan;67(1):99-106. doi: 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2011.02719.x. Epub 2011 Sep 27.

    PubMed 21951293
  • Rausch JR, Maxwell SE, Kelley K. Analytic methods for questions pertaining to a randomized pretest, posttest, follow-up design. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol. 2003 Sep;32(3):467-86. doi: 10.1207/S15374424JCCP3203_15.

    PubMed 12881035

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Rice Flour in people with Atopic Dermatitis, run by Heinz Italia SpA at 1 site in Italy.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 18 Dec 2019. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Italy. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Reduction in the SCORAD score (time frame: 16 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03157284, which also lists 12 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 18 Dec 2019.

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