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Probiotic Supplementation as an Adjuvant Therapy in Pediatric Drug-Resistant Epilepsy: A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial.

  • 2026-03-01
  • Pharmacotherapy 46(3)
    • Amira R Rashdan
    • Sahar M El-Haggar
    • Ahmed Mustafa Kishk
    • Tarek M Mostafa

Study Design

Type
Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Sample size
n = 60
Population
60 pediatric patients with DRE
Methods
randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial; control group received standard antiepileptic regimen plus daily placebo; probiotic group received same antiepileptic regimen plus daily Lactobacillus acidophilus supplement
Blinding
Double-blind
Duration
6 months
Funding
Unclear

Background

Drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) is increasingly linked to neuroinflammatory mechanisms driven by gut dysbiosis. These mechanisms compromise blood-brain barrier integrity, enhance seizure susceptibility, and modulate immune pathways. These insights underscore the therapeutic potential of microbiota-targeted interventions in epilepsy.

Aim

The study aimed at assessing the effectiveness of probiotics as an adjunctive therapy to enhance drug sensitivity and clinical outcomes in children with DRE.

Methods

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial enrolled 60 pediatric patients with DRE who were assigned to either the control group (n = 30), which received a standard antiepileptic regimen (valproic acid, oxcarbazepine, and levetiracetam at the maximum tolerated doses) plus a daily placebo capsule, or the probiotic group (n = 30), which received the same antiepileptic regimen plus a daily probiotic (Lactobacillus acidophilus) supplement. The study duration was 6 months. Assessments of clinical and biochemical outcomes were conducted at baseline and 6 months after intervention. Primary end points included seizure frequency and change in quality of life as measured by the quality of life in childhood epilepsy (QOLCE-55) questionnaire. Secondary end points included the change in the serum levels of high-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), homocysteine (Hcy), and NLR family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3).

Results

After 6 months and relative to the control group, the probiotic (Lactobacillus acidophilus) group experienced a significant decline in seizure frequency (p = 0.04) and a significant improvement in the QOLCE-55 total score (p < 0.0001). Additionally, the probiotic group exhibited significant decreases in the serum levels of HMGB1 (p = 0.0005), NLRP3 (p = 0.002), Hcy (p = 0.001), and IL-1β (p = 0.05) compared with the control group.

Conclusion

Lactobacillus acidophilus supplementation appears to enhance the effectiveness of conventional antiepileptic drugs, reduce systemic inflammation, improve quality of life, and reduce seizure frequency in children with DRE. However, further validation is necessary.

Clinicaltrials

Gov registration number

NCT05539287.

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