Lacticaseibacillus Rhamnosus CA15 (DSM 33960) Strain as a New Driver in Restoring the Normal Vaginal Microbiota

July 23, 2025 updated by: Agnese Maria Chiara Rapisarda

Lacticaseibacillus Rhamnosus CA15 (DSM 33960) Strain as a New Driver in Restoring the Normal Vaginal Microbiota: a Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial

The aim of the present randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial is to evaluate the efficacy of a probiotic formulation, containing the probiotic strain Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus CA15 (DSM 33960), in the treatment of vaginal dysbiosis in terms of: (i) modulation of the microbiota (increase of lactobacilli and decrease of pathogens), (ii) reduction of clinical signs of inflammation, (iii) improvement of quality of life.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

The aim of the present randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study is to evaluate the ability of the potential probiotic Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus CA15 (DSM 33960) strain, orally administrated, to balance the vaginal microbiota of women with vaginal dysbiosis. Two hundred women, with signs and symptoms of vaginal dysbiosis, are recruited and randomly allocated to receive oral capsules containing the L. rhamnosus CA15 (DSM 33960) strain or placebo once daily for 10 days. Clinical and microbiological parameters are evaluated in three scheduled appointments: at baseline (T0), 10 days after the start of the treatment (T1), and 30 days after the end of the treatment (T2). In addition, at baseline (T0) and 30 days after the end of the treatment (T2), the quality of life will be evaluated through a quality of life assessment questionnaire.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
200

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • Italy
      • Catania, Italy, 95123
        • University of Catania

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 48 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Presence of at least one vaginal sign or symptom (leucorrhoea, burning, itching, subjective vaginal discomfort);
  • Presence of at least 3 Amsel criteria;
  • Nugent score greater than 7;
  • Lactobacillary grade greater than 2 (LBG) (according to Donders classification);
  • Vaginal dysbiosis based on microbial cell count.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Presence of sexually transmitted diseases due to Chlamydia, Neisseria gonorrhoeae or Trichomonas vaginalis as well as specific cervico-vaginitis or severe vulvovaginal symptoms related to acute candidiasis;
  • Clinically evident herpes simplex infection;
  • Human papillomavirus or human immunodeficiency virus infections;
  • Use of antibiotics, antifungals, probiotics, or immunosuppressants within the past four weeks;
  • Use of vaginal contraceptives and any other physiological or pathological condition that could potentially interfere with the results of the study (e.g. pregnancy or breastfeeding, chronic diseases, neoplastic diseases, diabetes, genital tract hemorrhages);
  • Enrollment in other programs that involve the administration of products that may affect the composition of the vaginal microbiota.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Triple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Placebo Comparator: Placebo
1 daily capsule of placebo
Dietary supplement: placebo
Patients allocated to placebo arm will take placebo capsules once a day for 10 consecutive days.
Active Comparator: Active
1 daily capsule of the Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus CA15 (DSM 33960) probiotic strain (10 billion of Colony Forming Units/capsule) for 10 days
Dietary supplement: Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus CA15 (DSM 33960) probiotic strain
Patients allocated to the probiotic arm will take the dietary supplement, containing 10 billion of the Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus CA15 (DSM 33960) probiotic strain, once a day for 10 consecutive days.
Other Names:
  • probiotic CA15

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Microbiota
Time Frame: Baseline; end of the treatment (10 days); wash-out (30 days)
Change in the composition of the vaginal microbiota (significant reduction of pathogens responsible for vaginal dysbiosis and concomitant increase in lactobacilli)
Baseline; end of the treatment (10 days); wash-out (30 days)
Symptomatology
Time Frame: Baseline; end of the treatment (10 days); wash-out (30 days)
Change of signs (leucorrhoea, vulvovaginal erythema/edema) and symptoms (vulvar discomfort, burning, itching) associated to vaginal dysbiosis. Clinical signs and symptoms will be evaluated through a severity score on a scale of 0 (absent or normal) to 3 (severe).
Baseline; end of the treatment (10 days); wash-out (30 days)
Sign
Time Frame: Baseline; end of the treatment (10 days); wash-out (30 days)
Absence of inflammation according to Amsel's criteria and Nugent score between 0 and 3
Baseline; end of the treatment (10 days); wash-out (30 days)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Well-being
Time Frame: Baseline and wash-out (30 days)
Change in the quality of life, based on the Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire. Values ranging from 0 to 100 indicate worst and better outcomes, respectively.
Baseline and wash-out (30 days)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Agnese Maria Chiara Rapisarda

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
ProBioEtna

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Study Director: Marco Palumbo, Prof, University of Catania

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
April 10, 2023

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
June 29, 2024

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
May 6, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
March 21, 2023

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 21, 2023

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
April 4, 2023

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
July 28, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
July 23, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
July 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 163/2022/PO

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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