Actively Recruiting
Skin Inflammation in (Peri)Menopause: A Probiotic Intervention Proof of Concept Trial
Led by King's College London · Updated on 2026-05-08
30
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
78 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
K
King's College London
Lead Sponsor
Y
Yakult (UK & Ireland) Ltd
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
This study will explore whether a daily probiotic drink containing Lactobacillus casei Shirota (LcS) can help improve immune function and reduce inflammation in women going through the menopausal transition. Hormonal changes during this stage of life can affect the immune system, gut health, and skin, sometimes leading to increased inflammation or conditions such as eczema, acne or rosacea. Participants will consume either a low-sugar LcS probiotic drink or a skimmed milk control drink every day for eight weeks. The study will assess markers of immune ageing, inflammation, skin health, wellbeing, and hormone levels. The results will help determine whether a safe, non-hormonal probiotic approach may support immune and skin health during the menopausal transition.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Skin Inflammation in (Peri)Menopause: A Probiotic Intervention Proof of Concept Trial
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- 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.
You will not qualify if you...
- 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.
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Metabolic Research Unit, 4th Floor (Corridor A), Franklin-Wilkins Building, KCL.
London, London, United Kingdom, SE1 9NH
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
P
Prof. Wendy Hall
CONTACT
A
Andrea Du Preez, PhD
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
SINGLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Number of Arms
2
Not the Right Trial for You?
Explore thousands of other clinical trials that might be a better match.
Sign up to get personalized trial recommendations delivered to your inbox.
Already have an account? Log in here