Table 1. Demographics of subjects.
| Variables | Probiotics (n = 41) | Placebo (n = 41) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age, yr | 4.8 ± 2.3 | 5.4 ± 3.0 | 0.305 | |
| Sex, male | 25 (61) | 12 (29) | 0.004 | |
| Duration of illness, mon | 37.5 ± 21.5 | 46.6 ± 30.6 | 0.124 | |
| Cesarean section | 10 (24) | 14 (34) | 0.332 | |
| Family history of allergy | 33 (81) | 30 (73) | 0.432 | |
| Environmental tobacco smoke | 17 (41) | 19 (46) | 0.656 | |
| Bathing ≥ 1/day | 12 (29) | 15 (37) | 0.467 | |
| Soaping ≥ 1/day | 7 (17) | 11 (27) | 0.143 | |
| TEWL, g/m2/hr | 30.3 ± 17.0 | 27.7 ± 11.9 | 0.428 | |
| SCORAD | 30.4 ± 8.6 | 34.3 ± 8.3 | 0.040 | |
| Objective | 17.1 ± 8.8 | 21.0 ± 8.0 | 0.074 | |
| Subjective | 13.27 ± 2.61 | 13.34 ± 2.56 | 0.898 | |
| Log eosinophils, /µL | 5.7 ± 0.7 | 5.9 ± 0.6 | 0.275 | |
| Log total IgE, kU/L | 4.7 ± 1.5 | 4.5 ± 1.2 | 0.150 | |
| Sensitization to allergens | ||||
| Egg white | 4 (9.8) | 2 (4.9) | 0.466 | |
| Soybean | 11 (26.9) | 6 (14.6) | 0.172 | |
| Dermatophagoides farinae | 17 (43.9) | 18 (43.9) | 0.857 | |
Data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation or number (%).
TEWL = transepidermal water loss, SCORAD = scoring of atopic dermatitis, IgE = immunoglobulin E.