Skin Inflammation in (Peri)Menopause: A Probiotic Intervention Proof of Concept Trial

Research Question: Can a daily probiotic drink help reduce immune system ageing and improve inflammatory skin conditions in women going through menopause?

Background

The menopausal transition usually affects women aged 40-60. During this time, hormone levels, especially oestrogen, fluctuate and gradually decline. These changes can affect the immune system, making it more prone to inflammation and less effective over time.

Lower oestrogen can also affect the skin, leading to dryness, irritation, or acne. It can change the balance of bacteria in the gut and on the skin, which may worsen inflammation and overall health.

While hormone replacement therapy can help some symptoms, it is not suitable for all women. Currently, there is little research on safe, non-hormonal ways to support the gut, immune system, and skin together. One promising approach is using probiotics - beneficial bacteria that can improve gut health and reduce inflammation.

Lactobacillus casei Shirota (LcS) is a probiotic that has shown anti-inflammatory and immune-supporting effects in other adults. However, it has not been studied in menopausal women, who are particularly vulnerable to immune system changes and inflammatory skin conditions.

Aims and Hypothesis

Aim: To investigate whether the oral probiotic Lactobacillus casei Shirota (LcS) can influence markers of immunological ageing in women undergoing the menopausal transition who are experiencing skin conditions.

Hypothesis: Consuming 130 ml/day of a low-sugar probiotic (LcS) drink for 8 weeks will significantly reduce inflammation in women undergoing the menopausal transition with skin conditions, compared with a 130 ml/day skimmed milk control.

Objectives

Primary Objective: To determine if daily LcS consumption can improve immune function, measured using a composite "immune age" score (IMM-AGE) that reflects overall immune health and inflammation.

Secondary Objectives:

• To look at self-reported skin health, immune status, general wellbeing, and gut health.
• To assess skin inflammation and signs of ageing through clinician assessments and images.
• To measure hormone levels (oestrogen and FSH).

Study design

• Trial Design: Randomised, parallel, open-label, proof of concept trial, with an 8-week intervention and blinded outcome assessment.
• Participants: Peri- and postmenopausal women aged 40-60 years with self-reported or clinically diagnosed non-infectious, non-autoimmune skin conditions.
• Intervention: Daily 130 ml low-sugar LcS probiotic drink for 8 weeks.
• Comparison: Daily 130 ml skimmed milk (control) for 8 weeks.

Measurements:

• Immune function (IMM-AGE)
• Blood markers of inflammation (cytokines including CD14, IFN-α, IFN-γ, IL1Ra, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, GM-CSF, IFN-β, IL1β, IL-4, IL-8, IL-17) and hormones (oestrogen and follicle stimulating hormone [FSH] levels)
• Skin health and ageing
• Self-reported wellbeing, immune status, and gut health

Stool and skin samples will also be collected for future research, but these will not be analysed in this trial.

• Why This Study Matters

The menopausal transition is a time of rapid biological change that can affect immunity and skin health. This trial will test a safe, non-hormonal approach to support the immune system, reduce inflammation, and improve skin health in midlife women. The results will help guide future research and may inform practical strategies to improve wellbeing during menopause.

Inclusion criteria

• Female, aged 40-60 years.
• Self-reported or clinician-diagnosed non-infectious, non-autoimmune inflammatory skin condition affecting the face (e.g., rosacea, acne, eczema).
• Willing and able to consume a daily oral intervention (2x 65 ml probiotic drinks or skimmed milk) for 8 weeks.
• Willing and able to provide sufficient blood, skin and stool samples at baseline and end-of-study (Week 8). Participants unable to provide adequate blood sample volumes will not be able to start the intervention.
• Willing and able to provide a photograph of the facial area, with all images anonymised for study purposes.
• Able to comply with study procedures, including attending clinic visits at KCL.
• Have access to a refrigerator at home and be able to store the study product(s) safely after collection (i.e., travel time allows safe storage).
• Capable of providing written informed consent.
• Have sufficient proficiency in English to complete study questionnaires and assessments.

Exclusion criteria

• Inability or unwillingness to provide informed consent.
• Inability or unwillingness to comply with study protocol requirements (e.g., clinic visits, sample provision, daily consumption of study drink)
• Unwilling to record dietary intakes using handwritten diet diaries
• Not fluent in the English language
• Is planning on international travel during the study period
• Current participation in another interventional clinical trial or having received an investigational/pharmaceutical product within the past 3 months.
• Known allergy or intolerance to dairy products, skimmed milk, or probiotic drinks containing Lactobacillus species.
• Currently pregnant, currently breastfeeding or planning to become pregnant in the next 4 months.
• BMI <18.5kg/m2 or > 35kg/m2.
• Unintentional weight loss greater than 4 kg in the 3 months prior to enrolment.
• History of substance abuse or alcoholism (alcohol intake >50 units/week) within the last 12 months.
• Current smokers, or individuals who quit smoking in the last 6-months.
• Fasting glucose >7mmol/l (finger prick test at baseline clinic).
• Active skin infection requiring systemic antibiotics, antivirals, or antifungals within the past 4 weeks.
• Major gastrointestinal disease (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, short bowel syndrome) or history of significant gastrointestinal surgery (excluding appendectomy or cholecystectomy).
• Known immunodeficiency (e.g., HIV, immunosuppressive therapy, systemic corticosteroids >10 mg/day prednisolone equivalent).
• History of malignancy or clinically significant non-malignant skin conditions within the past 5 years (except adequately treated basal cell carcinoma).
• Serious medical conditions that, in the opinion of the investigator, would compromise safety or interfere with study outcomes (e.g., uncontrolled diabetes, advanced cardiovascular, hepatic, or renal disease, active cancer, autoimmune conditions).
• Women with a history of severe psychiatric illness that would limit adherence to study requirements.
• Current use of probiotics, prebiotics, or antibiotics within 4 weeks prior to baseline.
• Current use of systemic corticosteroids, or other immunosuppressive/immunomodulatory therapies within the past 3 months.
• Currently receiving, or having received, phototherapy (e.g., UVB, PUVA, laser/light-based treatments, including at home treatments) for any skin condition within the past 3 months.
• Currently receiving, or having received, systemic dermatology treatments likely to affect skin inflammation or immune response within the past 3 months (e.g., isotretinoin, methotrexate, cyclosporine, biologics such as TNF, IL-17, IL-23 or IL-4/IL-13 inhibitors).
• Currently receiving, or having received, topical treatments likely to significantly alter skin inflammation within the past 3 months (e.g., high-potency topical corticosteroids, topical calcineurin inhibitors such as tacrolimus or pimecrolimus, topical retinoids, or photodynamic therapy).
• Currently using, or have used, probiotic skincare (e.g., topical creams and serums) within the past 3 months.
• Currently receiving, have undergone, or plan to undergo cosmetic skin procedures (e.g., chemical peels, laser therapy, dermal fillers, microneedling) within the 3 months prior to, or within 3 months after the first (baseline) visit.
• Currently using, or have used, hormonal contraceptives or treatments known to exacerbate skin conditions, including Mirena (levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system), oral progesterone-only contraceptives (e.g., mini-pill), and synthetic progestogens (e.g., norethisterone) within the past 3 months.