Can a Synbiotic Supplementation Contribute to Decreasing Anti-Tissue Transglutaminase Levels in Children with Potential Celiac Disease?

PURPOSE: Synbiotics can alleviate some intestinal pathologies or prevent trigger mechanisms for some diseases such as celiac disease (CD). If patients with high levels of anti-tissue transglutaminase (anti-tTG) immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies have normal duodenal histology, they are followed as potential CD patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of synbiotic use on the blood levels of anti-tTG antibodies in children. METHODS: Eighty-two patients with high anti-tTG levels were included in this study. Patients were randomly divided into two groups. The synbiotic group was treated with a daily dose of a synbiotic including multi-strain probiotics for 20 days. The control group was not administered any medication. Anti-tTG values at baseline and repeat measurements and the percentage change in anti-tTG levels between groups were compared. RESULTS: The anti-tTG level at baseline was 36 U/mL (interquartile range [IQR], 26.4–68 U/mL) in the synbiotic group, and it decreased significantly to 13 U/mL (IQR, 6.5–27.5 U/mL) after 20 days (p<0.05). The anti-tTG level at baseline was 46 U/mL (IQR, 31–89 U/mL) in the control group, which also decreased significantly to 23 U/mL (IQR, 7–41 U/mL) after 20 days (p<0.05). Anti-tTG levels exhibited 73% and 56% decreases in the synbiotic and control groups, respectively (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: It may be speculated that a synbiotic supplementation can contribute to decreasing anti-tTG levels in children with potential CD.