Probiotics as a promising adjunct: associations with fatigue, quality of life, disability, mood, and inflammatory markers in Egyptian patients with relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Abstract Background Probiotics may have a promising role in chronic autoimmune diseases. This study aimed to assess changes in fatigue, quality of life (QOL), disability, depression, and inflammatory markers following probiotic supplementation in patients with relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). A total of 60 patients with RRMS were enrolled in this study. Participants were divided into two groups: a study group (n = 30) that received probiotic supplementation for 3 months and a control group (n = 30) that did not receive probiotics. Results After 3 months, the probiotic group showed statistically significant changes in fatigue, quality of life, disability, and depressive symptoms, as assessed by the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS), RAND 36-Item Health Survey (RAND-36) for QOL, the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), respectively, compared with the control group. Additionally, serum IL-6 levels were significantly lower and IL-10 levels were significantly higher in the probiotic group after 3 months compared with baseline. Conclusion Adjunctive probiotic supplementation was associated with favorable changes in clinical outcomes and inflammatory markers in patients with RRMS. These findings are preliminary and should not be interpreted as evidence of definitive clinical efficacy or probiotic-induced modification of the gut microbiome. Clinical trial registration ClinicalTrails.gov, Identifier NCT07346924.