Probiotics linked to less fatigue and disability in RRMS patients, study says

Adjunctive probiotic use was associated with favorable changes in fatigue, quality of life, depressive symptoms, disability, and inflammatory markers in patients with relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis, researchers wrote in a study published in The Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery.

Egyptian Researchers Test Probiotic Yogurt and Yeast Tablets

Researchers in Egypt enrolled 60 adult patients diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis who maintained clinical stability for the preceding twelve months while adhering to an established disease-modifying therapy. The open-label trial randomly allocated participants into two distinct cohorts. One group continued their standard disease-modifying therapy alone, while the adjunctive treatment group received commercial probiotic yogurt twice daily paired with a single daily yeast tablet containing Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The intervention protocol spanned three months. The bacterial strains included within the yogurt vehicle featured specific cultures of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. Because the study utilized an open-label design lacking a placebo control and combined multiple microbial agents, researchers noted that isolating the exact contribution of each individual component remains impossible.

Symptom Reductions and Quality of Life Measures

Total fatigue scores dropped significantly across the treatment group over the three-month period, whereas these scores remained largely unchanged in the control group receiving only standard therapy. Researchers documented distinct improvements across physical, cognitive, and psychosocial components of fatigue among participants receiving the microbes.

Standardized evaluations also showed that disability scores and depression measurements decreased significantly in the probiotic cohort. Conversely, these metrics stayed relatively consistent or worsened slightly among patients in the control group. Quality of life metrics improved across every evaluated domain, encompassing physical and social functioning, general health, vitality, mental health, bodily pain, and the degree to which physical or emotional challenges interfere with daily activities.

Probiotic Group Shows Decline in Pro-Inflammatory Molecules

Laboratory blood analyses tracked shifts in specific immune signaling molecules over the course of the intervention. Patients in the probiotic group demonstrated a marked decline in concentrations of the pro-inflammatory molecule interleukin-6, alongside a concurrent rise in the anti-inflammatory molecule interleukin-10.

Statistical evaluations revealed that higher interleukin-6 levels at the three-month mark correlated with more severe fatigue. This specific molecular marker accounted statistically for approximately 15 percent of the variation observed in patient fatigue scores. All 60 participants completed the trial duration, and investigators recorded no serious or treatment-related adverse events.

Preliminary Results Lack Placebo Control and Microbiome Measurements

Authors of the study emphasized that the results remain preliminary and must not be interpreted as definitive clinical efficacy or proof of direct microbiome modification. The trial relied on an open-label structure where both researchers and participants knew which regimen was administered, and it lacked a dedicated placebo control group.

The trial protocol also did not directly measure the composition or metabolic function of the participants' gut microbiome. Consequently, the data cannot establish whether the dietary intervention successfully altered resident gut microbes or whether shifts in the microbiome directly drove the clinical improvements.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and scientific communication purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment plan.