GB-EZ-SIM03 Probiotics Study for Childhood Eczema

Eczema is the most prevalent chronic skin disease in young children, and skin infection is commonly seen during eczema flare. Dysbiosis is increasingly recognised in the stool and skin of these patients. It is a common practice for parents to start these eczematous children on probiotics, but there is limited evidence if this treatment works in young patients. This single-centre, open-label clinical trial aims to investigate the benefits of a 3-month treatment of young children with eczema with a new probiotics called microbiome baby immunity formula (SIM03). Study outcomes include eczema severity, quality of life, biophysical measures of the skin and gastrointestinal symptoms, while adverse events related to this probiotics treatment will be monitored. The effects of this intervention on stool microbiome will also be analysed.

Eczema is a common chronic skin disease that affects a substantial part of population. The associated economic burden was estimated to cost more than $5 billion per year with the rising prevalence of this disease worldwide. A 2016 nation-wide study in China reported that 12.9% of children (1-7 years) were diagnosed with eczema. Growing evidence has shown that atopic dermatitis and/or eczema would increase the risk of several diseases' development, including stroke, myocardial infarction, unstable angina, atrial fibrillation, and cardiovascular death.

Except variation of clinical symptoms including dryness and itchy skin in eczema patients, gastrointestinal symptoms were also reported by children with atopic eczema, such as abdominal pain, abdominal distension, diarrhoea, constipation, vomiting and regurgitation. Unique gastrointestinal microflora pattern has also been observed in atopic dermatitis/ eczema patients when compared with healthy controls: decreased Bifidobacterium and Enterococci, especially Bifidobacterium bifidum and Bifidobacterium longum, and increased Faecalibacterium have been observed. Therefore, gastrointestinal microflora can serve as the disease indicator of eczema.

The development of gut microbiota starts before birth. The infant's microbiome can impact on human health in later life. To prevent disease, we need to nip it in the bud. Emerging evidence suggests that gut microbiota modulation can largely affect host immune functions in children and adults.

To date, no baby formula is specific for alleviating eczema-related symptoms for small children. GenieBiome Limited, a microbiome research-based company in Hong Kong developed a unique oral microbiome formula (baby immunity formula, SIM03) to prevent or treat gut dysbiosis and eczema development. SIM03 contains a blend of naturally occurring two food-grade probiotics strains, two prebiotics and two postbiotics. The two probiotics belong to food-grade Bifidobacterium, which is an important group of probiotic cultures commonly used in food products. Especially, research showed that Bifidobacterium could displace the proteolytic bacteria causing diarrhoea and recommended the administration of bifidobacteria to infants suffering from this symptom. Whereas the two prebiotics belong to food-grade oligosaccharides, which have been already used in food products. The two postbiotics belong to the acetates, which are also food grade and allowed to add in the foods.

We hypothesize that the gut microbiota of children with eczema can be modulated to decrease the severity of eczema related symptoms and the condition can be improved. A pilot study is proposed to assess the effect and safety of SIM03 on eczema severity, gut microbiome and GI symptoms of the children with eczema.

HYPOTHESIS We hypothesize that the microbiome baby immunity formula (SIM03) will lead to the improvement of eczema symptoms in children 1-5 years of age.

OBJECTIVES

1. To examine the effects of SIM03 in modulating gut microbiota, and improving the eczema severity, stool frequency/consistency in children aged 1-5 years old who have eczema;
2. To evaluate the safety of SIM03 by assessing the parent-reported adverse events in children aged 1-5 years old who have eczema in 1-5 years old children.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Children aged 1 to 5 years old with physician-diagnosed eczema according to Hanifin and Rakja criteria \[22,23\];
2. One of the parents or legal guardian (no mental illness or dementia, etc. that will hinder their ability to undertake informed consent) will provide written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Children with other documented chronic and clinically significant dermatologic diseases, such as erythra, that may interfere with evaluation of cutaneous microbiome. Common transient conditions such as acne are permissible.
2. Children with eczema who have taken antibiotics, probiotics or prebiotics in supplement, including but not limited to growing-up milk formula and infant's supplementary food within three months prior to inclusion.
3. Children with eczema who require systemic immunosuppressive treatments (e.g. corticosteroid, azathioprine, biologics) within six months prior to recruitment.