Promising results from clinical trial of a probiotic

A Parkinson’s UK funded clinical trial has shown that the probiotic Symprove, a patented water-based solution of live and active bacteria for gut support, may offer benefits beyond just relieving constipation for people with Parkinson’s. 

The 12-week study revealed that taking Symprove led to a quicker “time to ON” – meaning participants’ medication started working faster to help with movement symptoms. It was also found that people taking Symprove experienced improvements in their non-motor symptoms, particularly less fatigue and reduced constipation, compared to those who had taken the placebo.

Additionally, the results suggest that Symprove alters gut bacteria, increasing levels of certain bacteria that are associated with gut health and reducing harmful bacteria. There was also some evidence that inflammation was reduced in the gut.

About the clinical trial

The study, called SymPD, was led by researchers at King’s College Hospital in London. It involved 74 people with Parkinson’s who experienced constipation. Participants were randomly assigned to take either the active probiotic, Symprove, or a placebo for 12 weeks. Researchers assessed their symptoms before and after the trial and collected blood and stool samples from most participants to measure changes in gut bacteria and markers of inflammation.

Symprove is a liquid probiotic made up of four strains of live bacteria:

• Lactobacillus acidophilus
• Lactiplantibacillus plantarum
• Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus
• Enterococcus faecium

These bacteria are specially designed to survive stomach acid and reach the intestines, where they can support gut health.

Read the full scientific paper in the Journal of Movement Disorders. 

Dr Katherine Fletcher, Research Communications Lead at Parkinson’s UK, said:

"It’s fantastic to see the results of this study published, especially as it offers hope that there are steps people with Parkinson’s can take, in consultation with their healthcare professionals, to help manage some of their symptoms today. It’s particularly exciting to see evidence that Symprove may help with fatigue, a symptom we know can have a significant impact on quality of life for people with Parkinson’s.

"Symprove is already available to buy on the high street and online for people who would like to try it for themselves alongside a healthy diet. We hope these findings will pave the way for future research and initiatives to make this probiotic more accessible to those who could benefit from it."

This is not intended as health advice. We strongly encourage you to consult your healthcare professional before making changes to your diet or starting new supplements or probiotics. Please also note there are other probiotics that are available to buy.