Table 1.
Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of the participants in the two study groups at baseline.
| Characteristics | Case (probiotic supplement group) N = 25 |
Control (placebo group) N = 25 |
p value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years), mean ± SD | 33.80 ± 1.37 | 34.95 ± 7.03 | 0.591 |
| Age (years), n (%) | |||
| 18–29 | 9 (36) | 9 (36) | |
| 30–39 | 13 (52) | 13 (52) | |
| ≥ 40 | 3 (12) | 3 (12) | |
| Sex, n (%) | |||
| Male | 7 (28) | 8 (32) | 0.872 |
| Female | 18 (72) | 17 (68) | |
| Education, n (%) | |||
| Elementary | 7 (28) | 9 (36) | 0.481 |
| Diploma | 12 (48) | 9 (36) | |
| College | 6 (24) | 7 (28) | |
| Occupation, n (%) | |||
| Unemployed | 9 (36) | 7 (28) | 0.429 |
| Employed | 16 (64) | 18 (72) | |
| Marriage status, n (%) | |||
| Single/divorced/widowed | 6 (24) | 3 (12) | 0.602 |
| Married | 19 (76) | 22 (88) | |
| Living arrangements, n (%) | |||
| Alone | 3 (12) | 1 (4) | 0.901 |
| With others | 22 (88) | 24 (96) | |
| Baseline expanded disability status scale score, Mean ± SD | 3.15 ± 1.33 | 3.62 ± 0.88 | 0.105 |
| Time since MS diagnosis, (years), mean ± SD | 6.88 (4.55) | 7.11 (5.91) | 0.374 |
| Previously corticosteroid use, n (%) | |||
| No | 9 (36) | 8 (32) | 0.682 |
| 3 months ago | 3 (12) | 1 (4) | |
| > 3 months ago | 13 (52) | 16 (64) | |
| Drug, n (%) | |||
| Fingolimod | 9 (36) | 8 (32) | 0.611 |
| Natalizumab | 11 (44) | 10 (40) | |
| Glatiramer acetate | 5 (20) | 7 (28) | |
| Weight (kg), mean ± SD | 72.25 ± 8.76 | 11.31 ± 2.52 | 0.745 |
| Height (cm), mean ± SD | 167.10 ± 6.86 | 165.35 ± 6.40 | 0.410 |
| Body mass index (kg/m2), Mean ± SD | 25.89 ± 2.96 | 25.99 ± 3.55 | 0.924 |
| Body mass index (kg/m2) | |||
| 18.5–24.9 | 7 (28) | 7 (28) | |
| 25–29.9 | 12 (48) | 12 (48) | |
| ≥ 30 | 6 (24) | 6 (24) | |
*All values are presented as mean ± SD or n (%) and were analyzed using an independent sample t-test/ Mann–Whitney U test or Fisher's exact test.