AUTHOR=Kim Sukyung , Kang Bae-Gon , Sa Soonok , Park Se Young , Ryu Kyungheon , Lee Jinyoung , Park Boram , Kwon Mijeong , Kim Yeonghee , Kim Jiwon , Shin Sanghee , Jang Sehun , Kim Byung Eui , Bae Jaewoong , Ahn Kangmo , Liu Kwang-Hyeon , Kim Jihyun 

TITLE=Advanced fructo-oligosaccharides improve itching and aberrant epidermal lipid composition in children with atopic dermatitis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1383779

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2024.1383779

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Introduction</title><p>The effects of fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) on atopic dermatitis (AD) have not been determined.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, children with AD aged 24 months to 17 years received either advanced FOS containing 4.25 g of 1-kestose or a placebo (maltose) for 12 weeks.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>The SCORAD and itching scores were reduced in patients treated with both FOS (all <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01) and maltose (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05 and <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01). Sleep disturbance was improved only in the FOS group (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01). The FOS group revealed a decreased proportion of linoleic acid (18:2) esterified omega-hydroxy-ceramides (EOS-CERs) with amide-linked shorter chain fatty acids (C28 and C30, all <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05), along with an increased proportion of EOS-CERs with longer chain fatty acids (C32, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01).</p></sec><sec><title>Discussion</title><p>FOS may be beneficial in alleviating itching and sleep disturbance, as well as improving skin barrier function in children with AD.</p></sec>