Effectiveness of PENTABIOCEL in Clinical and Laboratory Recovery of Children With Celiac Disease
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03857360 |
Recruitment Status :
Recruiting
First Posted : February 28, 2019
Last Update Posted : March 25, 2020
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Celiac Disease | Dietary Supplement: Pentabiocel Dietary Supplement: Placebo | Not Applicable |
Celiac disease (CD) is an intestinal inflammatory condition characterized by permanent intolerance to gluten, a protein complex present in wheat, barley, and rye, in genetically predisposed subjects. In the early phase of the disease, specific autoantibodies are generally present, which is relevant for diagnostic purposes (especially anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies (anti TTG) of IgA (immunoglobulin A) class and anti-endomysial antibodies( EMA), and a duodenal and jejunal mucosal lesion that is characterized by an increase in intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL), hypertrophy of crypts and villous atrophy. The only accepted and effective treatment for CD so far is a lifelong strict gluten-free diet(GFD).
On the clinical level, CD can have an extremely variable expression, from almost silent forms to cases with more or less striking intestinal and extra-intestinal manifestations. Treatment with a strict GFD causes gradual normalisation of the intestinal lesion (generally within 12-24 months). The persistence of a minimal intestinal lesion and of mostly gastro-enteric symptoms, is not rare in adulthood, especially for the difficulty of maintaining a "zero gluten content" diet over time. The "timing" of recovery induced by the GFD is variable from patient to patient and depends on numerous factors such as presentation mode (typical, atypical or silent), the age of onset, adherence to a strict GFD, etc. Among the factors that may condition the normalisation of the clinical picture. According to some recent data, the quantitative and qualitative typology of the intestinal microbiome may have role. Prospective studies in healthy infants who are at risk of developing CD have shown that the Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) genotype, together with other environmental factors, influences the composition of the microbiota. In addition, celiac patients have alterations of the intestinal microbiome (dysbiosis) that do not completely normalize even after starting GFD. It has therefore been suggested that CD may favor dysbiosis which in turn negatively influences intestinal mucosal damage and can promote inflammation through the expansion of harmful bacteria and the reduction of beneficial bacteria.
Probiotics are live microorganisms, that when ingested in appropriate quantities, give to the host benefits. Some probiotics may digest gluten and are thus able to reduce their toxicity when used in fermentation processes. For example, a research group (Di Cagno et al.) has shown that bakery products made using a natural yeast with wheat flour fermented by proteases of lactobacilli and mushrooms, can be taken with confidence by celiac patients. This data suggests that the simple administration of a probiotic is capable to provide benefit in patients with CD leading to an improvement also of intestinal symptoms. However, it is clear from the literature that not all probiotic strains possess this characteristic. It has been shown that a mixture of probiotic strains, in particular belonging to the species Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus plantarum, Bifidobacterium breve, and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis, is able to significantly improve the irritable colon-like gastrointestinal symptoms of patients with CD. Pentabiocel is the trade name of the product containing the above mentioned probiotic mixture: Lactobacillus paracasei (LMG P-17504), Lactobacillus plantarum (CECT 4528), Bifidobacterium breve Bbr8 (LMG P-17501), Bifidobacterium breve (BL10 LMG P-17500) and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis Bi1 (LMG P -17,502).
In this randomized double blind placebo controlled trial study investigators will investigate the effect of "Pentabiocel" on children already on GFD.
The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of "Pentabiocel" in the clinical and laboratory recovery of children with celiac disease
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Estimated Enrollment : | 113 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | Single (Participant) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Effectiveness of PENTABIOCEL in Clinical and Laboratory Recovery of Children With Celiac Disease: A Randomized Double Blind Placebo Controlled Trial |
Actual Study Start Date : | March 15, 2019 |
Estimated Primary Completion Date : | March 15, 2021 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | March 15, 2021 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Active Comparator: Pentabiocel
Oral administration of one sachet of Pentabiocel for 12 consecutive weeks.
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Dietary Supplement: Pentabiocel
Pentabiocel is the trade name of the product containing the probiotic mixture of: Lactobacillus paracasei LMG P-17504, Lactobacillus plantarum CECT 4528, Bifidobacterium breve Bbr8 LMG P-17501, Bifidobacterium breve BL10 LMG P-17500 and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis Bi1 LMG P -17,502. |
Placebo Comparator: Placebo
Oral administration of one sachet of Placebo per day for 12 consecutive weeks.
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Dietary Supplement: Placebo
Placebo is composed of maltodextrin which is easily digestible, being absorbed as rapidly as glucose. Maltodextrin listed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a safe food additive. |
- Assessment of recovery time of clinical features [ Time Frame: 3 months ]After three months of probiotic treatment patients will be compared with their clinical symptoms evaluating score based Celiac symptom Index (CSI) developed by Leffler DA et al.
- Differences between two treatment groups related to all the evaluated parameters [ Time Frame: 3 & 6 months ]
Differences between the two treatment groups (Placebo and control )related to all the parameters evaluated and in particular: (a) Weight (in kilograms) , height (in meter) will be combined to measure BMI (at the time of enrolment and after follow up 3 and 6 months).
(b) Anti tissue transglutaminase IgA serology level in cubic inch ( CU) (at the time of enrolment and after follow up 3 and 6 months).

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 2 Years to 16 Years (Child) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Children / adolescents aged between 2 and 16 recruited at the time of diagnosis of celiac disease.
The diagnosis of celiac disease will be performed according to the ESPGHAN 2012 Guidelines.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Patients with autoimmune comorbidity (eg type 1 diabetes) or other associated chronic diseases
- Associated serum IgA selective deficiency
- Poor adherence to gluten free diet at the 6-month control, measured by a score> 10 at the Wessels questionnaire.
- Adherence to the intervention protocol <85%.
- Antibiotic therapy performed during the 7 days preceding T0 and / or T6.
- Antibiotic therapy during the 3 months of probiotic / placebo treatment.

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT03857360
Contact: Carlo Catassi, MPH | +39 071 596 23 64 | c.catassi@univpm.it | |
Contact: Elena Lionetti, PhD | +39 071 596 23 64 | mariaelenalionetti@gmail.com |
Italy | |
Department of Pediatrics, via Corridoni 11 | Recruiting |
Ancona, Italy, 60123 | |
Principal Investigator: Carlo Catassi, MD |
Principal Investigator: | Carlo Catassi, MPH | Univeristà Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy | |
Principal Investigator: | Elena Lionett, PhD | Univeristà Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy | |
Principal Investigator: | Basilio Malamisura | Cava de' Tirreni - Ospedale di cava De' tirreni, UO di Pediatria, Salerno, Italy |
Other Publications:
Responsible Party: | Carlo Catassi, M.D., Professor and Head, Department of Pediatrics, Università Politecnica delle Marche |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT03857360 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
CD-PENTABIOCEL |
First Posted: | February 28, 2019 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | March 25, 2020 |
Last Verified: | March 2020 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | Undecided |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
Product Manufactured in and Exported from the U.S.: | No |
Gluten Probiotic Microbiota Dysbiosis |
Celiac Disease Malabsorption Syndromes Intestinal Diseases |
Gastrointestinal Diseases Digestive System Diseases Metabolic Diseases |