Gut Health and Probiotics in Parkinson's (SymPD)

Current literature suggests that the gut microbiota is altered in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and might play a role in the clinical presentation and pathogenesis of this condition. The latter has driven the interest in investigating the use of gut microbiota-modulating interventions, such as probiotics, as possible novel therapeutic strategies for PD. Symprove is a food supplement working as an oral active probiotic which unlike many commercially available probiotics can reach the intestine and has been shown to be beneficial for gut health in gastrointestinal disorders.To date, no research has explored the possible effects of the intake of Symprove in PD. This is an exploratory study with a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled design investigating the effects of a 12-week probiotic intervention (Symprove) on gut and general health in 60 patients with PD and constipation.