Impact of probiotics on gut microbiota composition and clinical symptoms of coeliac disease patients following gluten-free diet.

Coeliac disease (CD) is associated with alterations in gut microbiota composition. This study evaluated the effects of probiotics on gut microbiota composition and clinical symptoms of treated CD patients. In this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial study, 31 CD patients that were randomly classified as probiotics (n = 15) and placebo (n = 16) groups received 10 colony-forming units/capsule for 12 weeks. Fecal samples were collected before and after probiotics, or placebo administration and the changes in intestinal microbiota were assessed by quantitative real-time PCR. Probiotic administration improved the patients' clinical symptoms when compared to the placebo group. Fatigue score was significantly reduced by the intake of probiotic supplements (P = 0.02). Except for spp., the relative abundances of , spp., spp., cluster I, , and were higher in probiotics group. Accordingly, a 12-week multi-strain probiotic treatment regimen may modify the composition of intestinal microbiota and improve GI symptoms in CD patients.