Objective: We aimed to investigate the add-on effect of Lactobacillus plantarum PS128 (PS128) in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD).
Background: PS128 is a specific probiotic known as psychobiotics. It was beneficial to neuropsychological disorders such as autism in our previous study. We hypothesize that it might be also beneficial to patients with PD based on the possible mechanism of interrupting transportation of neurotoxin via the microbiome-gut-brain axis.
Method: This is an open-label, single-arm, baseline-controlled trial. The eligible participants were scheduled to intake 60 billion colony forming unit of PS128 once per night for 12 weeks. Clinical assessments were conducted using the unified Parkinson’s disease rating scale (UPDRS) and modified Hoehn and Yahr stage as primary outcome measures. The non-motor symptoms questionnaire, Beck depression inventory 2nd edition, patient assessment of constipation symptom, 39-item Parkinson’s disease questionnaire, and patient global impression of change (PGI-C) were assessed as secondary outcome measures.
Results: Twenty eligible patients (30 % women) were enrolled in the study. The mean age was 61.2±5.03 years (range, 52-71), the mean disease duration was 10.25±2.17 years (range, 6-14), and levodopa equivalent daily dosage was 1047.88±204.69 mg/daily (range, 675–1560). All patients remained on the same dosage of anti-Parkinsonian and other drugs throughout the study. After 12 weeks (V1) of probiotic administration, the UPDRS motor scores improved significantly in both the off- and on-states (p=0.001, p=0.012, respectively). However, none of secondary outcomes improved significantly at V1, excepted PGI-C scores improved in 14 patients (70%).
Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that a 12-weeks of PS128 administrated with constant anti-Parkinsonian medications improved the UPDRS motor score of PD patients. We suggest that PS128 could serve as a therapeutic adjuvant for the treatment of PD.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
H.C Chang, Y.C Tsai, C.S Lu. The add-on effect of Lactobacillus plantarum PS128 in patients with Parkinson’s disease: A pilot study [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2020; 35 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/the-add-on-effect-of-lactobacillus-plantarum-ps128-in-patients-with-parkinsons-disease-a-pilot-study/. Accessed June 15, 2025.« Back to MDS Virtual Congress 2020
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/the-add-on-effect-of-lactobacillus-plantarum-ps128-in-patients-with-parkinsons-disease-a-pilot-study/