Browse volumes Journal Visitors 12035 Visitors A crosstalk between pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia and gut: The role of microbiota and curcumin

This study aimed to evaluate the role of gut microbiota in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and to determine the effectiveness of curcumin supplementation. Children with ALL underwent clinical, anthropometric, nutritional (Screening tool for the assessment of malnutrition in pediatrics; STAMP), and fecal microbiota assessments at diagnosis, at week one of the maintenance phase of chemotherapy, and after one month of intervention (Time 0, 1, and 2, respectively). Thirty participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either oral curcumin (500 mg twice daily) or standard nutritional care (SOC) alone. Both groups demonstrated comparable STAMP scores at diagnosis and prior to curcumin administration. The curcumin group exhibited improved STAMP scores, increased log counts of microbiota, including Streptococcus, Lactobacillus, and Bifidobacterium, and significantly fewer hospital admissions after one month of therapy. These findings suggest that curcumin may play a beneficial role in modulating gut microbiota and demonstrate a favorable safety profile in children with ALL.