Effectiveness of probiotic supplementation in the management of Celiac Disease: a systematic review

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52521/nutrivisa.v12i1.15936

Keywords:

celiac disease; probiotics; gut microbiota; gluten-free diet; intestinal inflammation.

Abstract

Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition triggered by gluten ingestion, for which the only currently effective treatment is strict adherence to a gluten-free diet (GFD). Nevertheless, some patients continue to present gastrointestinal symptoms and intestinal dysbiosis. Gut microbiota modulation through probiotic supplementation has emerged as a promising adjunct therapeutic strategy. The aim of this study was to systematically review randomized clinical trials assessing the effects of probiotic supplementation on gastrointestinal symptoms and gut microbiota composition in patients with celiac disease. Studies published in the last ten years, in English and Portuguese, that used probiotics alone and compared them with placebo were included. Searches were conducted in Scielo, Lilacs, PubMed, Cochrane, and Medline databases, following a protocol registered in PROSPERO and PRISMA guidelines. The results indicate that strains such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium breve, and Lactobacillus casei are associated with reduced inflammation, restoration of gut microbiota balance, and improvement of gastrointestinal symptoms. Despite methodological heterogeneity, the findings suggest that probiotics may play a relevant complementary role in the clinical management of celiac disease.

References

ANDRIULLI, A.; BEVILACQUA, A.; PALMIERI, O.; LATIANO, A.; FONTANA, R.; GIOFFREDA, D.; CASTELLANA, S.; MAZZA, T.; PANZA, A.; MENZAGHI, C.; GRANDONE, E.; DI MAURO, L.; DECINA, I.; TRICARICO, M.; MUSAICO, D.; MÄKI, M.; ISOLA, J.; POPP, A.; TAAVELA, J.; PETRUZZI, L.; SINIGAGLIA, M.; ROSARIA CORBO, M.; LAMACCHIA, C. Healthy and pro-inflammatory gut ecology plays a crucial role in the digestion and tolerance of a novel Gluten Friendly™ bread in celiac subjects: a randomized, double blind, placebo control in vivo study. Food Funct. 2022 Feb 7;13(3):1299-1315. doi: https://doi.org/10.1039/d1fo00490e . PMID: 35029612.

CHANDER, A.M.; YADAV, H.; JAIN, S.; BHADADA, S.K,; DHAWAN, D.K. Cross-Talk Between Gluten, Intestinal Microbiota and Intestinal Mucosa in Celiac Disease: Recent Advances and Basis of Autoimmunity. Front Microbiol. 2018 Nov 1;9:2597. doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2018.02597 . PMID: 30443241; PMCID: PMC6221985.

COLLADO, M.C.; DONAT, E.; RIBES-KONINCKX, C.; CALABUIG, M.; SANZ, Y. Imbalance in faecal and duodenal Bifidobacterium species composition in active and non-active coeliac disease. BMC Microbiology. 2008;8:232. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2180-8-232

CRISTOFORI, F.; INDRIO, F.; MINIELLO, V.L.; DE ANGELIS, M.; FRANCAVILLA, R. Probiotics in Celiac Disease. Nutrients. 2018 Nov 23;10(12):1824. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10121824. PMID: 30477107; PMCID: PMC6316269.

DE LA ROSA GONZÁLEZ, A.; GUERRA-OJEDA, S.; CAMACHO-VILLA, M.A.; VALLS, A.; ALEGRE, E.; QUINTERO-BERNAL, R.; MARTORELL, P.; CHENOLL, E.; SERNA-GARCÍA, M.; MAURICIO, M.D.; SERNA, E. Effect of Probiotics on Gastrointestinal Health Through the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Pathway: A Systematic Review. Foods. 2024 Oct 30;13(21):3479. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13213479. PMID: 39517263; PMCID: PMC11545787.

DE PALMA, G.; NADAL, I.; COLLADO, M.C.; SANZ, Y. Effects of a gluten-free diet on gut microbiota and immune function in healthy adult human subjects. Br J Nutr. 2009;102(8):1154-1160. doi: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114509371767

FASANO, A.; CATASSI, C. Current approaches to diagnosis and treatment of celiac disease: an evolving spectrum. Gastroenterology. 2001;120(3):636-651. doi: https://doi.org/10.1053/gast.2001.22123

FRANCAVILLA, R.; PICCOLO, M.; FRANCAVILLA, A.; POLIMENO, L.; SEMERARO, F.; CRISTOFORI, F.; CASTELLANETA, S.; BARONE, M.; INDRIO, F.; GOBBETTI, M.; DE ANGELIS, M. Clinical and Microbiological Effect of a Multispecies Probiotic Supplementation in Celiac Patients With Persistent IBS-type Symptoms: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-controlled, Multicenter Trial. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2019 Mar;53(3):e117-e125. doi: https://doi.org/10.1097/MCG.0000000000001023. PMID: 29688915; PMCID: PMC6382041.

GALIPEAU, H.J.; MCCARVILLE, J.L.; HUEBENER, S.; LITWIN, O.; MEISEL, M.; JABRI, B.; SANZ, Y.; MURRAY, J.A.; JORDANA, M.; ALAEDINI, A.; CHIRDO, F.G.; VERDU, E.F. Intestinal microbiota modulates gluten-induced immunopathology in humanized mice. Am J Pathol. 2015 Nov;185(11):2969-82. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajpath.2015.07.018. PMID: 26456581; PMCID: PMC4630176.

HALL, N.J.; RUBIN, G.; CHARNOCK, A. Systematic review: adherence to a gluten-free diet in adult patients with coeliac disease. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2009 Aug 15;30(4):315-30. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2036.2009.04053.x. PMID: 19485977.

HARNETT, J.; MYERS, S.P.; ROLFE, M. Probiotics and the Microbiome in Celiac Disease: A Randomised Controlled Trial. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2016;2016:9048574. doi: https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/9048574. PMID: 27525027; PMCID: PMC4972910.

HIGGINS, J.P.; THOMAS, J.; CHANDLER, J.; CUMPSTON, M.; LI, T.; PAGE, M.J.; WELCH, V.A. Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Version 6.5. Cochrane, 2024.

LEBWOHL, B.; SANDERS, D.S.; GREEN, P.H.R. Coeliac disease. Lancet. 2018 Jan 6;391(10115):70-81. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(17)31796-8. PMID: 28760445.

MOHER, D.; LIBERATI, A.; TETZLAFF, J.; ALTMAN, D.G.; PRISMA, Group. Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement. PLoS Med. 2009 Jul 21;6(7):e1000097. doi: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000097. PMID: 19621072; PMCID: PMC2707599.

OSCARSSON, E.; HÅKANSSON, Å.; ANDRÉN ARONSSON, C.; MOLIN, G.; AGARDH, D. Effects of Probiotic Bacteria Lactobacillaceae on the Gut Microbiota in Children With Celiac Disease Autoimmunity: A Placebo-Controlled and Randomized Clinical Trial. Front Nutr. 2021 Jun 25;8:680771. doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2021.680771. PMID: 34249990; PMCID: PMC8267153.

PRIMEC, M.; KLEMENAK, M.; DI GIOIA, D.; ALOISIO, I.; BOZZI CIONCI, N.; QUAGLIARIELLO, A.; GORENJAK, M.; MIČETIĆ-TURK, D.; LANGERHOLC, T. Clinical intervention using Bifidobacterium strains in celiac disease children reveals novel microbial modulators of TNF-α and short-chain fatty acids. Clin Nutr. 2019 Jun;38(3):1373-1381. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2018.06.931. PMID: 29960810.

RITCHIE, M.L.; ROMANUK, T.N. A meta-analysis of probiotic efficacy for gastrointestinal diseases. PLoS One. 2012;7(4):e34938. doi: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0034938. PMID: 22529959; PMCID: PMC3329544.

SÁNCHEZ, E.; RIBES-KONINCKX, C.; CALABUIG, M.; SANZ, Y. Intestinal Staphylococcus spp. and virulent features associated with coeliac disease. J Clin Pathol. 2012 Sep;65(9):830-4. doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/jclinpath-2012-200759. PMID: 22718843.

SMECUOL, E.; HWANG HJ,SUGAI, E.; CORSO, L.; CHERÑAVSKY, A.C.; BELLAVITE, F.P.; GONZÁLEZ, A.; VODÁNOVICH, F.; MORENO, M.L.; VÁZQUEZ, H.; LOZANO, G.; NIVELONI; S.; MAZURE, R.; MEDDINGS, J.; MAURIÑO, E.; BAI, J.C. Exploratory, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study on the effects of Bifidobacterium infantis natren life start strain super strain in active celiac disease. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2013 Feb;47(2):139-47. doi: https://doi.org/10.1097/MCG.0b013e31827759ac. PMID: 23314670.

SOHEILIAN KHORZOGHI, M.; ROSTAMI-NEJAD, M.; YADEGAR, A.; DABIRI, H.; HADADI, A., RODRIGO, L. Impact of probiotics on gut microbiota composition and clinical symptoms of coeliac disease patients following gluten-free diet. Contemp Clin Trials Commun. 2023;35:101201. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conctc.2023.101201

THERRIEN, A.; KELLY, C..;, SILVESTER, J.A. Celiac Disease: Extraintestinal Manifestations and Associated Conditions. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2020 Jan;54(1):8-21. doi: https://doi.org/10.1097/MCG.0000000000001267. PMID: 31513026; PMCID: PMC6895422.

VALITUTTI, F.; CUCCHIARA, S.; FASANO, A. Celiac Disease and the Microbiome. Nutrients. 2019 Oct 8;11(10):2403. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11102403. PMID: 31597349; PMCID: PMC6835875.

Published

2025-08-20

How to Cite

NAVARRO, S. P. da S.; SARTORI, Y. R. de C.; CASTRO, L. H. G.; SIMIONI, P. U. Effectiveness of probiotic supplementation in the management of Celiac Disease: a systematic review. Journal of Nutrition and Health Surveillance, Fortaleza, v. 12, n. 1, p. e15936, 2025. DOI: 10.52521/nutrivisa.v12i1.15936. Disponível em: https://revistas.uece.br/index.php/nutrivisa/article/view/15936. Acesso em: 5 dec. 2025.

Issue

Section

Artigos de revisão