Open AccessImmunomodulating potential of supplementation with probiotics: a dose–response study in healthy young adults
Author(s) -
Christensen Hanne Risager,
Larsen Charlotte Nexmann,
Kæstel Pernille,
Rosholm Lisbeth Buus,
Sternberg Claus,
Michaelsen Kim Fleischer,
Frøkiær Hanne
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-695x.2006.00109.x
Subject(s) - lactobacillus paracasei , immune system , bifidobacterium animalis , probiotic , feces , biology , immunology , placebo , immunoglobulin e , interferon gamma , lactobacillus , bifidobacterium , antibody , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , food science , bacteria , genetics , alternative medicine , pathology , fermentation
Certain probiotic microorganisms have been found beneficial in the treatment of immune‐related diseases and may also affect immune function in healthy people. Intervention studies of probiotics in healthy humans are urgently required. Here, the immunomodulating potential of Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis (BB‐12) and Lactobacillus paracasei ssp. paracasei (CRL‐431) was studied in a double‐blind placebo‐controlled parallel dose–response trial ( n =71) based on five randomly assigned groups of young healthy adults supplemented for 3 weeks with 0, 10 8 , 10 9 , 10 10 and 10 11 CFU day −1 , respectively, of a mixture of BB‐12 and CRL‐431. No statistically significant dose‐dependent effect was found for phagocytic activity in blood leukocytes, fecal immunoglobulin A (IgA) concentrations or production of interferon‐γ and interleukin‐10 in blood cells. When evaluating data according to the amount of viable BB‐12 recovered from faeces, the interferon‐γ production in blood cells was significantly reduced. In conclusion, no solid effect on the immune function of young healthy adults supplemented with even high doses of B. animalis ssp. lactis BB‐12 and L. paracasei ssp. paracasei CRL‐431 was demonstrated in this study.